PINS AND NEEDLES

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does pins and needles mean? 

• PINS AND NEEDLES (noun)
  The noun PINS AND NEEDLES has 1 sense:

1. a sharp tingling sensation from lack of circulation

  Familiarity information: PINS AND NEEDLES used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PINS AND NEEDLES (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A sharp tingling sensation from lack of circulation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("pins and needles" is a kind of...):

prickling; tingle; tingling (a somatic sensation as from many tiny stings)

 Context examples 

Then he entered the back room and took up a measure of bran, which he mixed with a great many pins and needles.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

This damage slows down or blocks messages between your brain and your body, leading to the symptoms of MS. They can include: • Visual disturbances • Muscle weakness • Trouble with coordination and balance • Sensations such as numbness, prickling, or pins and needles • Thinking and memory problems

(Multiple Sclerosis, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

The Scarecrow decided to think, and he thought so hard that the pins and needles began to stick out of his brains.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)