Like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Meaning in plain English
The phrase makes a search resemble finding a needle in a haystack. It emphasises a small target hidden among a large amount of material.
Example
A researcher narrows a large collection by topic before looking for one particular passage.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The contrast of scale makes the difficulty vivid. A useful application can ask how to narrow the search rather than call it impossible. The image supplies no measured odds, and a clear method or better information may change the task considerably.
When to use it
Use it to describe search difficulty while considering ways to narrow the task.
Keep in mind
The comparison establishes neither impossibility nor a probability.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 421; PDF page 62
Reuse and collection notes ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · supplied collection
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
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