buscar una aguja en un pajar
Lemma Details
Translation: to look for a needle in a haystack; to search for something nearly impossible to find
Part of Speech: idiom
Etymology: This Spanish idiom is a direct equivalent of the English expression 'to look for a needle in a haystack.' It uses the same imagery of searching for a tiny object (aguja = needle) in an overwhelming mass of similar material (pajar = haystack). The metaphor dates back centuries in both languages and illustrates the futility of searching for something extremely difficult to find among a vast quantity of similar items.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Buscar a una persona específica entre miles de asistentes al concierto es como buscar una aguja en un pajar.
Looking for a specific person among thousands of concert attendees is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Sin tener el número de serie, encontrar tu maleta perdida será como buscar una aguja en un pajar.
Without having the serial number, finding your lost suitcase will be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Intentar encontrar ese documento entre todos estos archivos es buscar una aguja en un pajar.
Trying to find that document among all these files is looking for a needle in a haystack.
Mnemonics
- Picture yourself literally searching through hay for a tiny needle - the frustration helps remember the meaning
- Connect 'pajar' (haystack) with 'paja' (straw) to remember the setting of the idiom
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This idiom is widely used in Spanish-speaking countries in everyday conversation to describe futile searches or extremely difficult tasks. It's understood across all Spanish-speaking cultures and is used in similar contexts as its English equivalent.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'buscar una aguja en un pajar' refers to searching for something extremely difficult to find, 'dar palos de ciego' means to act blindly or make random attempts without direction.
Notes: Both idioms describe difficult situations, but 'buscar una aguja en un pajar' emphasizes the difficulty of finding something specific, while 'dar palos de ciego' emphasizes acting without proper guidance or knowledge.
Mnemonic: 'Aguja en pajar' involves a difficult search for something specific; 'palos de ciego' involves random, directionless attempts.