"pins & needles"?

[Patricia S. Kuhlman]

I recently wrote my second cousin a letter and used the expression "on
pins and needles" in the following context.
    "When do early admission college applicants hear whether they were
accepted?  Is your son on                pins and needles waiting to
hear?"
        I grew up in rural/suburban Illinois in the 50's & 60's.  I think
I grew up hearing "on pins and needles" in this context, i.e. anxiety
over waiting to hear or find out something specific.  I wouldn't use it
in the sniper context which is stronger and more generalized anxiety.
I've heard "pins and needles" to describe tingly numbness as when your
leg falls asleep, but do not myself use it that way.

Patricia  Kuhlman
pskuhlman at juno.com
Brooklyn, NY

On Thu, 10 Oct 2002 10:40:51 -0400 sagehen <sagehen at WESTELCOM.COM>
writes:
> David Bergdahl writes:
> >Nope--heard it all my life (I grew up in the 40s and 50s on
> suburban LI)
> >
> >--On Thursday, October 10, 2002 8:52 AM -0400 sagehen
> ><sagehen at WESTELCOM.COM> 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?
> >> A. Murie
>   ~~~~~~~
> I wasn't questioning the viability of "pins & needles" (usually
> occurring
> in reference to restoration of feeling after numbing, for instance),
> just
> this particular context.
> AM
>
>