如坐针毡 on pins and needles
Explanation
形容心里极度不安，坐立难安的样子。像坐在铺着许多针的毡子上一样难受。
Describes the feeling of extreme anxiety and inability to sit still. It feels as uncomfortable as sitting on a mat covered with needles.
Origin Story
晋惠帝司马衷即位后，太子司马睿为人懦弱，不理朝政，却喜好经商。太子中舍人杜锡多次劝谏，但司马睿不听，反而怀恨在心。一日，司马睿命人将针密密地缝进杜锡平时坐的毡垫里，待杜锡坐下时，便被针扎得臀部流血，司马睿为此感到十分快乐。杜锡在朝堂上，因为臀部疼痛，坐立难安，如坐针毡，但他仍然坚持劝谏，最终为国家发展建言献策，体现了忠臣的气节。
After Emperor Sima Zhong ascended the throne, Crown Prince Sima Rui was weak and uninterested in state affairs, but he loved doing business. The imperial secretary Du Xi advised him many times, but Sima Rui ignored him and even harbored resentment. One day, Sima Rui ordered people to sew needles densely into the felt pad that Du Xi usually sat on. When Du Xi sat down, he was stabbed in the hip by the needles, which made Sima Rui very happy. During the court session, Du Xi, because of the pain in his hips, was restless and could hardly sit still, like sitting on pins and needles. However, he still insisted on his advice and made valuable contributions to the development of the state, showing his loyalty.
Usage
多用于描写人因担心、害怕或焦虑而坐立不安的状态。
Mostly used to describe a person's restless state due to worry, fear, or anxiety.
Examples
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他一听要开会，就如坐针毡，坐立不安。
tā yī tīng yào kāi huì, jiù rú zuò zhēn zhān, zuò lì bù ān。
He was on pins and needles when he heard that there would be a meeting.
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考试前夕，他如坐针毡，无法安心复习。
kǎoshì qián xī, tā rú zuò zhēn zhān, wúfǎ ānxīn fùxí。
On the eve of the exam, he was on pins and needles and could not study peacefully.