like sitting on pins and needles; extremely uneasy
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
like having a thorn in one's back; extremely uneasy and restless
literaryCross-reference to 芒刺在背 (máng cì zài bèi). Both idioms describe extreme unease or anxiety, as if sitting on pins and needles. Often used to describe guilt, fear, or discomfort in social situations.
Tā他
zuò做
le了
kuī亏
xīn心
shì事
，
zhěng整
tiān天
rú如
máng芒
zài在
bèi背
，
zuò坐
lì立
bù不
ān安
。
He had done something against his conscience, and all day he felt like sitting on pins and needles, unable to sit still.
Zì自
cóng从
nà那
jiàn件
shì事
fā发
shēng生
hòu后
，
tā他
zǒng总
jué觉
de得
rú如
máng芒
zài在
bèi背
，
wú无
fǎ法
shì释
huái怀
。
Ever since that incident occurred, he has always felt a thorn in his side, unable to let it go.
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Miàn面
duì对
lǎo老
shī师
de的
zhì质
wèn问
，
tā他
rú如
máng芒
zài在
bèi背
，
zhī支
zhī支
wū吾
wū吾
shuō说
bu不
chū出
huà话
lái来
。
Facing the teacher's questioning, he felt extremely uneasy, stammering and unable to speak.