Question
22 January
- Russian
-
English (US)
Question about English (US)
What is the difference between needle somebody about something and needle somebody into (doing) something ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
What is the difference between needle somebody about something and needle somebody into (doing) something ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
Could you explain me the difference between these two phrases with examples?
Answers
22 January
Featured answer
- English (US)
It's an idiom (recognized expression) To criticize, goad, or provoke someone about some issue or topic in a persistent, irritating manner, especially with petty insults or jabs. He's always needling me about my sales performance, rubbing my face in the fact that he's selling twice as many units as me on average. To pester or bother someone about someone or something
= Please don't needle me about Jane. I will talk to her when I'm ready.
= Stop needling me about eating out! I don't want to.
= He's always needling me about my sales performance, rubbing my face in the fact that he's selling twice as many units as me on average.
= Everyone took great fun in needling Jonathan for dating such a nerdy guy, but I could see that the jibes really hurt his feelings.
Highly-rated answerer
Read more comments
- English (US)
It's an idiom (recognized expression) To criticize, goad, or provoke someone about some issue or topic in a persistent, irritating manner, especially with petty insults or jabs. He's always needling me about my sales performance, rubbing my face in the fact that he's selling twice as many units as me on average. To pester or bother someone about someone or something
= Please don't needle me about Jane. I will talk to her when I'm ready.
= Stop needling me about eating out! I don't want to.
= He's always needling me about my sales performance, rubbing my face in the fact that he's selling twice as many units as me on average.
= Everyone took great fun in needling Jonathan for dating such a nerdy guy, but I could see that the jibes really hurt his feelings.
Highly-rated answerer
- Russian
@tca53london thanks a lot. Could you please tell me whether needle about and needle into are the same?Or needle into has slightly different meaning?
- English (US)
Needle as a noun is something you sew with.
as a verb, needling is what I described above.
If you're going to use needling and about... He was needling me about not getting 100% on my exam like he got.
Highly-rated answerer
- Russian

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