pins and needles

American  

noun

1. a tingly, prickly sensation in a limb that is recovering from numbness.

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idioms

1. on pins and needles, in a state of nervous anticipation.

   The father-to-be was on pins and needles.

pins and needles British  

noun

1. a tingling sensation in the fingers, toes, legs, etc, caused by the return of normal blood circulation after its temporary impairment

2. in a state of anxious suspense or nervous anticipation

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Etymology

Origin of pins and needles

First recorded in 1800–10

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pins and needles

So, go ahead, keep NBA schedule-makers on pins and needles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

He added that he was “on pins and needles, like everybody else.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 2026

After sitting for a long time, you may find walking difficult or feel pins and needles in your legs.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 15, 2025

John Kelly was driving to Dublin for work when he felt a tightness in his chest and pins and needles in his arm.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2024

He’s been on pins and needles lately, hoping the results of the experiment could land in Nature, one of the leading scientific journals in the world.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

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