Origin
The first example of this idea in print was in the works of St. Thomas More in 1532.
Explanation
It is based on the idea that it is very hard to find a sewing needle in a haystack (a tall pile of dry grass). It means when something is extremely difficult (or impossible) to find.This is considered to be an extremely difficult thing to do, and rightly so. Finding a tiny needle in a big stack of hay, not impossible, would take a considerable amount of time and effort. Hence, when people are having trouble finding things in modern times, they often say this phrase to indicate the difficulties they are having. How small a needle is! When it is thrown into the wide ocean, it will fall to the bottom amongst the sand, rocks and seaweed. A diver could be right next to the needle and never see it. But the ocean covers many square kilometres. The chances of finding the needle are just about zero. It, therefore, means to undertake an impossible search.
Examples
Do you honestly believe you’re going to find my cellphone in that heaping mess you call a room? It’ll be like trying to find a needle in a haystack; it’s simply not going to happen!
It’s pretty much a needle in a haystack because these fish are extremely hard to find.
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