bed of nails

noun

1. a situation of extreme hardship or suffering:

   Taking care of her sick brother all these years has been a bed of nails for her.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bed of nails¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Most intriguing are the lines scored down the length of the strip, possibly by a rake or even a bed of nails.

From BBC

Tuna, the lead singer of SoCal’s Sweat, couldn’t wait to check out John Reis, whose new band Swami and the Bed of Nails, played a club show on Friday, and Rocket from the Crypt, one of his old bands, played the main stage on Sunday night.

From Los Angeles Times

Formed of 20 metal posts wrapped in upholstered foam cylinders, it functions loosely like a soft-touch bed of nails.

From New York Times

After all, how could Gerry be anything but completely smitten by Theresa considering what he did to win her hand—namely, dragging the still-beating heart of runner-up Leslie Fhima through a bed of nails?

From Slate

"Clearly he's taking over a complete bed of nails both within the government in terms of the shambles of some policy areas, as well as in the party and it's very worrying."

From BBC