a needle in a haystack
noun phrase
informal
: someone or something that is very hard to find
Searching for your earring at the park will be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Examples of a needle in a haystack in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Finding a comfortable bra may feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.
—
Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2024
Instead of trying to find a needle in a haystack, unemployed youngsters may be better off hunting for a job in the same space where recruiters are actively looking to hire.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 7 Mar. 2024
Finding qualified and high-quality candidates can be like finding a needle in a haystack.
—Michael Fox, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Still, the door knocking can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
—Paloma Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024
Finding a sports bra that’s up to the task can feel like digging for a needle in a haystack.
—Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 7 Feb. 2024
Advertisement Google users who spoke to The Post compared the company’s search product to the experience of hunting through a bargain bin for a useful item or searching for a needle in a haystack.
—Taylor Lorenz, Washington Post, 20 July 2023
Finding a pair of shoes that look good and, most importantly, feel good can be like finding a needle in a haystack — leading you to sacrifice one for the other.
—Ali Faccenda, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023
Finding a perfect nude lipstick can be like looking for a needle in a haystack (or, for those with darker skin, like looking for a piece of hay in a needlestack).
—Gabi Thorne, Allure, 18 Oct. 2023
Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2024
Instead of trying to find a needle in a haystack, unemployed youngsters may be better off hunting for a job in the same space where recruiters are actively looking to hire.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 7 Mar. 2024
Finding qualified and high-quality candidates can be like finding a needle in a haystack.
—Michael Fox, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Still, the door knocking can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
—Paloma Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024
Finding a sports bra that’s up to the task can feel like digging for a needle in a haystack.
—Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 7 Feb. 2024
Advertisement Google users who spoke to The Post compared the company’s search product to the experience of hunting through a bargain bin for a useful item or searching for a needle in a haystack.
—Taylor Lorenz, Washington Post, 20 July 2023
Finding a pair of shoes that look good and, most importantly, feel good can be like finding a needle in a haystack — leading you to sacrifice one for the other.
—Ali Faccenda, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023
Finding a perfect nude lipstick can be like looking for a needle in a haystack (or, for those with darker skin, like looking for a piece of hay in a needlestack).
—Gabi Thorne, Allure, 18 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'a needle in a haystack.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near a needle in a haystack
Cite this Entry
“A needle in a haystack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20needle%20in%20a%20haystack. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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