eye of the needle

eye of the needle

1. Literally, the opening at end of a needle through which a thread is passed so it can be used for sewing. Would you mind getting this thread through the eye of the needle for me? My eyesight is so bad, I can't see where it's supposed to go.
2. By extension, an extremely narrow space. Hyphenated if used as a modifier before a noun. There were so many people in the crowd, but we managed to make our way through the eye of the needle to get right in front of the stage. The player is remarkable for making eye-of-the-needle passes that slip between the defenders in front of their net.
See also: eye, needle, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the eye of a needle

a very small opening or space (used to emphasize the impossibility of a projected endeavour).
This phrase comes from Matthew 19:24: ‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God’.
2001 FourFourTwo Able to thread a pass through the eye of a needle, he can play in the centre or on either flank.
See also: eye, needle, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • the eye of a needle
  • thread the needle
  • hang by a thread
  • hang by a thread, to
  • hang by a thread/hair
  • thread through
  • thread through (something)
  • hang (on) by a hair
  • hang by a hair
  • PMJI
References in periodicals archive
A week later, Thurman had to go through the eye of the needle against Josesito Lopez.
Pacquiao takes on a taller, heavier sparring mate
'He's going to take a long, long time,' I thought, 'With those thick glasses, he won't know where the needle is and where the thread should go!' And then I stared dumbfounded as with one swift move he identified the eye of the needle and got the thread in.
Threading the needle..!
'We still need to go through the eye of the needle. We need to beat them twice so we have to be ready,' he said.
Letran out to give favored Lyceum a good fight in NCAA Final 4 match
EXHIBITION Willard Wigan MBE: In the Eye of the Needle This exhibition showcases 21 miniature works from micro sculture Willard's collection which sit within the eye of a needle or on the head of a pin.
48 hours BIRMINGHAM HOT LIST YOUR NEXT
The 82-year-old has starred in a number of successful movies such as "The Dirty Dozen", "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", "A Time To Kill" and "Eye of the Needle" and most recently he appeared in "The Hunger Games" franchise as President Snow.
Donald Sutherland to receive honorary Oscar
Callum McGregor 6 No lack of endeavour but with 10 behind the ball he struggled to thread the eye of the needle. James Forrest 6 Confronted by two blue shirts at every turn, spent a lot of his night forced inside rather than forward.
Man by Man
Described as 'the 8th wonder of the world,' Wigan's work includes an interpretation of da Vinci's, The Last Supper, Cinderella, her ugly sisters and stepmother in the eye of the needle and Prince Albert on the head of a pin.
Birmingham Airport to exhibit world-acclaimed sculptor's works
The Allesley School of Dance student won her area final on May 23 singing Eye of the Needle by Australian singer Sia.
Singing to be a TeenStar
Career: Mayall made his small-screen debut in 1981 as the protagonist in Kevin Turvey Investigates, closely followed by TV series A Kick Up the Eighties and small roles in films Eye of the Needle and An American Werewolf in London.
spotlight on... Rik Mayall; FRIDAY
Ten days into Ramadan - a time when most Ramadan soaps are wrapped up and ready for delivery in full to the respective TV stations - the up-and-come actor Amr Saad is still shooting his series "Khurm Ibreh" (Eye of the Needle).
He'd rather be fasting: Amr Saad is still shooting!
"First Group race, first win, it's superb," said Hamelin, who threaded Saonois through the eye of the needle between the Jean-Claude Rouget pair Saint Loup and Beauvoir.
Young star Hamelin bags first Group win
A little more than 25 years ago, I published an article entitled "Passing Through the Eye of the Needle" in the Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences.
Progress and stagnation: 25 years of Hispanic achievement: there is an urgent need to understand and address the gap in Hispanic male achievement
The connectors use the "Eye of the Needle" pressfit zone to reduce the press-in force by approximately 25 percent, according to the company, resulting in less stress on the PCB.
Female DIN connectors redesigned for daughter applications
Follett, a 58-year-old native of Cardiff, is known for spectacular thrillers such as Lie Down With Lions, Eye Of The Needle and World Without End, published last month, a sequel to The Pillars Of The Earth, published in 1989.
WALES: Oprah's choice a boost for Follett