芒刺在背 mángcìzàibèi to be on pins and needles Origin Definitions Defs Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 芒 máng awn The beard or awn of cereal grains like wheat or rice刺 cì noun thorn a small, sharp, pointed object such as a thorn, splinter, or fish bone在 zài preposition to be at To be located at, in, or on; to be present or at home.背 bèi noun back the back of a person or animal