bed of nails
The phrase "bed of nails" can refer to a physical device used in demonstrations or an idiom describing a challenging situation.
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Definition
B2Demonstrations
(literal, technical)A board with many sharp nails pointing upwards, used to show principles of weight distribution and pressure.
Example
- The magician lay on a bed of nails to demonstrate how pressure is distributed.
B2Situations
(idiomatic)A scenario that is very uncomfortable or difficult to endure.
Example
- Managing the project was a bed of nails, with constant challenges and setbacks.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "bed of nails":