cleopatra's needle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “cleopatra's needle” mean?
An ancient Egyptian obelisk moved from Egypt to a foreign city.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An ancient Egyptian obelisk moved from Egypt to a foreign city.
A term for any of three specific ancient Egyptian obelisks relocated to London, New York City, and Paris in the 19th century; often used as a landmark or meeting point.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Refers to the specific obelisk in London for UK speakers and the one in New York City for US speakers. The Paris obelisk is less commonly referenced in everyday English.
Connotations
UK: A London landmark on the Victoria Embankment. US: A Central Park landmark, often associated with antiquity and urban history.
Frequency
More commonly known in cities where the obelisks are located; low frequency in general global English.
Grammar
How to Use “cleopatra's needle” in a Sentence
[Location]'s Cleopatra's NeedleCleopatra's Needle in [City]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, archaeological, or architectural contexts regarding 19th-century Egyptomania and monument relocation.
Everyday
Used as a specific landmark reference for meeting or giving directions in London or New York.
Technical
Used in Egyptology and heritage conservation to discuss the specific obelisks and their inscriptions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cleopatra's needle”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cleopatra's needle”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cleopatra's needle”
- Using 'Cleopatra Needle' (dropping the possessive 's').
- Referring to any obelisk as 'a Cleopatra's needle'.
- Misspelling as 'Cleopatra's Noodle'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the obelisks are much older, dating from the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III (15th century BC). The name is a historical misnomer.
Three: one in London (erected 1878), one in New York City (erected 1881), and one in Paris (erected 1836).
Because an obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow, tapering monument which resembles a giant needle or pillar.
No, it is a proper noun for those three specific monuments. Referring to another obelisk this way would be incorrect.
An ancient Egyptian obelisk moved from Egypt to a foreign city.
Cleopatra's needle is usually formal, historical, literary in register.
Cleopatra's needle: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkliːəˌpætrəz ˈniːd(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkliəˌpætrəz ˈnid(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like finding Cleopatra's Needle in a haystack (a rare, humorous play on 'a needle in a haystack')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Cleopatra (an Egyptian queen) + Needle (a tall, thin obelisk looks like a giant needle).
Conceptual Metaphor
A NEEDLE IS A TALL, THIN MONUMENT.
Practice
Quiz
Cleopatra's Needle is best described as: