"pins & needles"?

[Bethany K. Dumas]

On Thu, 10 Oct 2002, sagehen wrote:

>In describing the state of alarm & nervous expectation experienced by
>people in the D.C. area because of the recent sniper shootings, a reporter
>on NPR this morning used the expression  "on pins & needles" where I'd have
>expected "on tenterhooks."  Anyone else find this odd?

No, I would find "on tenterhooks" very odd. What ARE tenterhooks, anyway?

Bethany