English Reference
Idiom idiom

squint like a bag of nails


To squint very much, as though one's eyes were directed as many ways as the points of a bag of nails.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

“He squints like a bag of nails in the bright sun.”

CONTEXTUAL

“Without his glasses, he squints like a bag of nails while trying to read the small menu.”

COMPLEX

“The elderly man, struggling against the harsh glare of the afternoon light, squinted like a bag of nails as he attempted to decipher the faded inscription on the stone.”


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    and the like

    And other similar items; et cetera.

  2. 02

    another nail in someone's coffin

    An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.

  3. 03

    bag of bones

    A skinny, malnourished person or animal.

  4. 04

    bag of tricks

    A set of skills, techniques, items of information, or other resources used to help achieve professional or personal goals.

  5. 05

    be like

    To say.

  6. 06

    bite one's nails

    To worry or fret over something.

  7. 07

    brown bag

    A short presentation or seminar on a given subject, especially one given at lunchtime.

  8. 08

    built like a brick outhouse

    Synonym of built like a brick shithouse.

Last updated August 10, 2026