'sitting on pins and needles'

Posted by ESC on January 15, 2004

In Reply to: 'sitting on pins and needles' posted by Ward Fredericks on January 15, 2004

: Just sent an email message to my favo(u)rite Aussie and used the expression 'I'm sitting on pins and needles'. In the US, that means a state of some concern over the future outcome of some important and concequential set of circumstances. I wonder if this is an expression used elsewhere to discribe a state of apprehension or if there are other phrases that represent shorthand for this feeling. Thanks to all.

In my part of the U.S. (W.Va., Ky.) I've heard: "I've been on pins and needles." But without the "sitting." A similar expression: on tenterhooks.

• Tenterhooks? Lotg 20/January/04
  • Tenterhooks? pdianek 21/January/04
    • Thanks Lotg 21/January/04