expression, noun
bed of nails; bed of thorns; very uncomfortable situation
Idiomatic expression describing a situation where one feels extremely uncomfortable, anxious, or unwelcome, as if sitting on a bed of nails. Often used metaphorically for social or psychological discomfort.
彼の前では針のむしろに座っているような気分だ。
I feel like I'm sitting on a bed of nails in front of him.
会議中、針のむしろ
During the meeting, I felt like I was on a bed of thorns.
A Chinese-derived four-character idiom with the same literal meaning, but rarely used in modern Japanese. 針のむしろ is the common Japanese equivalent.
Literally 'a straw mat of needles'. The phrase is a direct metaphor for an extremely uncomfortable situation, akin to the English 'bed of nails' or 'bed of thorns'. The origin is uncertain, but it likely arose from the vivid image of sitting on needles.