Jason: Hey, how did you do on your test? Did you pass?
Jen: I think I did okay. But I won’t find out the results until next week.
Jason: Next week? You have to wait that long for the results?
Jen: Unfortunately I do. I’m going to be on pins and needles until I find out the results.

본문에서 Jason이 “Hey, how did you do on your test? Did you pass? 너 시험 잘 봤니? 통과한 거야?”라고 묻자, 제가 “I think I did okay. But I won’t find out the results until next week. 괜찮았던 것 같아. 그런데 결과는 다음 주에나 나와.”라고 답합니다.

이어서 Jason이 “Next week? You have to wait that long for the results? 다음 주? 결과가 나올 때까지 그렇게 오래 기다려야 돼?”라고 다시 묻자, 제가 “Unfortunately I do. 불행히도 그래. I’m going to be on pins and needles until I find out the results. 결과를 알 때까지는 계속 불안할 텐데.”라고 합니다.

Now keep today’s expression, ‘on pins and needles’ in mind and let’s hear the conversation again. 그럼 다시 한번 대화를 들어볼까요?

Jason: Hey, how did you do on your test? Did you pass?
Jen: I think I did okay. But I won’t find out the results until next week.
Jason: Next week? You have to wait that long for the results?
Jen: Unfortunately I do. I’m going to be on pins and needles until I find out the results.

Today’s expression is on pins and needles. Pins are thin metal objects often used for sewing. If someone is on pins and needles they are very anxious and extremely nervous. This expression is used to describe someone who is waiting to hear an announcement or news about something that is important to them.

Needle는 바늘이고 pin은 말 그대로 뾰족한 핀입니다. 만일 여러분들이 뾰족한 핀과 바늘 위에 있다면 어떨까요? 찔릴까 봐 불안하겠죠? 저도 마찬가지입니다. 그러니까 'on pins and needles'라는 표현은 ‘초조하다, 불안해하다’, ‘조마조마하다’라는 뜻입니다. 한국에도 ‘바늘 방석에 앉았다’는 비슷한 표현이 있죠.

오늘 본문에서 제가 시험 결과는 다음 주에 나온다며, 기다리는 동안 너무 불안할 거라고 합니다. “Unfortunately I do. I’m going to be on pins and needles until I find out the results.”라고요. 이처럼 어떤 상황 때문에 초조해하거나 안절부절못할 때 쓸 수 있는 표현이 바로 ‘on pins and needles’입니다.

‘On pins and needles’라는 표현 잘 기억하시고요. 마지막으로 오늘의 대화를 들어보겠습니다. Now that you know what today’s expression means, let’s listen to the conversation for the last time.

Jason: Hey, how did you do on your test? Did you pass?
Jen: I think I did okay. But I won’t find out the results until next week.
Jason: Next week? You have to wait that long for the results?
Jen: Unfortunately I do. I’m going to be on pins and needles until I find out the results.

Let’s review. When you are on pins and needles, you are nervous or anxious about something. ON PINS AND NEEDLES.