Needle in a haystack

Lysander · 4 Dec 2012 at 13:53

I have always thought this refers to a needle of hay rather than, say, a knitting needle or a needle and thread.

It makes far more sense that it were a hay needle. Thoughts?

G|mp · 4 Dec 2012 at 13:55

No, makes sense if it was a normal sewing needle as that would be extremely difficult to find in a haystack.

Hence the saying.

Disco Boy · 4 Dec 2012 at 13:55

It means a sewing needle. You have always thought wrong.

HTH.

mehuk · 4 Dec 2012 at 13:56

If it was a hay needle it wouldn't make sense, as it would be a stack of them... hence just get one and you found it.

Its a sewing needle imo, hard to find.

Lysander · 4 Dec 2012 at 13:57

G|mp said:
No, makes sense if it was a normal sewing needle as that would be extremely difficult to find in a haystack.

Finding a particular needle of hay would be harder.

Disco Boy said:
It means a sewing needle.

Isn't that just an assumption though?

Name · 4 Dec 2012 at 13:58

Im with Lysander, a needle of hay would make more sense.

Ive always thought it was a sewing needle or something ha

Belmit · 4 Dec 2012 at 13:59

I'm not even aware of a 'needle of hay' being a thing. This thread is the 3rd hit on Google for that term.

PhillyDee · 4 Dec 2012 at 13:59

And what is a needle of hay?

Voltar · 4 Dec 2012 at 13:59

G|mp said:
No, makes sense if it was a normal sewing needle as that would be extremely difficult to find in a haystack.

Hence the saying.

Indeed.

Amleto · 4 Dec 2012 at 14:01

Needle of hay isn't even a thing. :confused:

Lysander · 4 Dec 2012 at 14:01

PhillyDee said:
And what is a needle of hay?

A strand of hay is also called a needle.

Amleto said:
Needle of hay isn't even a thing.

Indeed it is.

Amleto · 4 Dec 2012 at 14:02

show me proof

edit:
http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1="sewing+needle"&word2="needle+of+hay"

Lysander · 4 Dec 2012 at 14:03

Amleto said:
show me proof

http://northfacefarm.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/nature-of-hay.html

Finally, in disgust, you drop the bucket you were carrying, unzip your coat, pull the hem of your sweater and underlying vest away from your body, un-tuck the turtleneck exposing your bare skin to the icy air, and reach up to sweep the offending needle of hay out of your clothing

I don't know where you'd find proof, but here's an example of the term being used.

PhillyDee · 4 Dec 2012 at 14:05

So, by your logic, its a lot more difficult to find a needle of hay in a haystack? Pick the first one, job done.

Unless you wish to differentiate the needle of hay you are looking for by turning it into a needle. In which case, its a bloody sewing needle . . . .

Cosimo · 4 Dec 2012 at 14:05

PhillyDee said:
And what is a needle of hay?

A song.

TaKeN · 4 Dec 2012 at 14:06

Needle in a Hay stack.. very common saying round here in Shropshire.

silvercut · 4 Dec 2012 at 14:06

This problem has been solved by wittgenstein:

http://forums.philosophyforums.com/threads/wittgenstein-a-summary-41631.html

Cosimo · 4 Dec 2012 at 14:07

Lysander said:
http://northfacefarm.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/nature-of-hay.html

I'd call it a strand of hay.

Amleto · 4 Dec 2012 at 14:08

Lysander said:
http://northfacefarm.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/nature-of-hay.html

I don't know where you'd find proof, but here's an example of the term being used.

You find a pretty lonely example. - About 359 results according to google. That is very low on the www and couldn't be called common by any stretch of the imagination.

Therefore I call poppycock on 'needle of hay' being 'a thing'.

bledd · 4 Dec 2012 at 14:09

Haha, I can actually use it for real.

My dad is a farmer, he makes hay for a living. I've never heard of a 'needle of hay'

It's blade of hay

Needle in a haystack

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