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.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Finding low-interest personal loans can feel like hunting for a needle in a haystack when so many options exist. —Dallas News, 21 Dec. 2022

Finding a needle in a haystack is probably a lot easier than finding a patch of krill in the ocean. —Connor Lynch, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2022

Finding small creatures in the Morrison Formation is a challenging task, akin to finding a needle in a haystack that extends from Montana to Oklahoma. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022

Finding the perfect pair of sneakers can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. —Claire Harmeyer, PEOPLE.com, 29 July 2022

Some Russian personnel may use such radios as a means to blend into the wide spectrum of civilian frequencies — like a needle in a haystack, Bendett said — rather than military frequencies that are more limited and detectable with the right equipment. —Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2022

Shopping for skincare products meant for mature skin can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. —Daley Quinn, Good Housekeeping, 13 July 2021

Problem is, with so many styles to choose from, finding the right treatment for your home can be the design equivalent to a needle in a haystack. —Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2021

Andrew Marantz writes in the New Yorker, taking issue with the narrative posted by Facebook vice president of global affairs Nick Clegg that moderating content on Facebook is like searching for a needle in a haystack. —Eamon Barrett, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2020

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