on pins and needles

noun

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

Idioms

2. on pins and needles, in a state of nervous anticipation: The father-to-be was on pins and needles.

noun (functioning as singular) informal

1. a tingling sensation in the fingers, toes, legs, etc, caused by the return of normal blood circulation after its temporary impairment
2. on pins and needles in a state of anxious suspense or nervous anticipation

In a state of anxiety or tense expectation: “Jackie was on pins and needles waiting to hear about her job application.” Nervously anxious, as in He was on pins and needles, waiting for the test results. The graphic expression pins and needles for the tingling sensation experienced in recovering from numbness was transferred to a feeling of marked mental uneasiness about 1800.