"the eye of a needle" = what the heck does this mean?

[udonoogen]

its a funny metaphor. is it because the end of a needle resembles an eye?

 

[MC]

i have no idea, maybe something really really small?

 

[0roo0roo]

reallysmall and a pain to thread

 

[VBboy]

"Many reference books for Bible say "the eye of a needle" means the small side gate next to the sanctuary gate in Jerusalem."

According to my friend Google and his direct link over here

 

[AvesPKS]

It's not really a metaphor, per say...more anthropomorphication...like the legs on a table, or the hands of a clock. But, yeah, it's basically called that because it resembles an eye.

 

[VBboy]

Originally posted by: AvesPKS
It's not really a metaphor, per say...more anthropomorphication...like the legs on a table, or the hands of a clock. But, yeah, it's basically called that because it resembles an eye.

LOL, dude, most your posts are shorter than your sig. Short posts or long sig?

Just teasin' ya.

 

[AvesPKS]

Originally posted by: VBboy
"Many reference books for Bible say "the eye of a needle" means the small side gate next to the sanctuary gate in Jerusalem."

According to my friend Google and his direct link over here

Ever see that SNL skit where the guy reads the passage in the Bible (paraphrased, it's easier to get a camel through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven)? He basically spent all of his money making miniature camels, or really big needles...

 

[AvesPKS]

Originally posted by: VBboy

Originally posted by: AvesPKS
It's not really a metaphor, per say...more anthropomorphication...like the legs on a table, or the hands of a clock. But, yeah, it's basically called that because it resembles an eye.

LOL, dude, most your posts are shorter than your sig. Short posts or long sig?

Just teasin' ya.

Yeah...the first two parts are original. I've had those since almost day one. Then last year I added in the Terps part...I've been putting off taking that down. Oh, well....

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: AvesPKS
It's not really a metaphor, per say...more anthropomorphication...like the legs on a table, or the hands of a clock. But, yeah, it's basically called that because it resembles an eye.

Although the pedantic will quickly point out that anthropomorphizations are a category of metaphor.

 

[godmare]

dictionary.com:

6. Something suggestive of the vertebrate organ of vision, especially:
a. An opening in a needle.

is it because the end of a needle resembles an eye?

Evidently.
When I read the title, though, I thought of the Ken Follett book about the German spy whose trademark was a stilleto