What Does "Needle in a Haystack" Mean?
"Needle in a haystack" is an English idiom. It means "something extremely difficult to find due to its rarity or being hidden among many other things."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "needle in a haystack" used in a sentence:- Searching for the lost earring in the park felt like looking for a needle in a haystack.
- Locating that specific document in the cluttered office was like finding a needle in a haystack.
- With so many books in the library, finding the one I needed was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Needle in a Haystack" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "needle in a haystack" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
Gold
Silver
Bronze
- This test has questions.
- A correct answer is worth 5 points.
- You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
- Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
- Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
- 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
