Be a bed of nails British phrase UK informal
To be painful, difficult, or unpleasant.
Living with strangers in a shared apartment is a bed of nails.
Eating out with Leo is a bed of nails. He is so talkative that I can't get a word in edgeways.
Her brother's care has been a bed of nails for her all these years.
It is difficult for someone (not) to do something.
To be put in a bad mood
Used to refer to an unpleasant, repellent place, thing or person
The verb "be" should be conjugated according to its tense.
It was often said by a photographer when he would like small children to look at the camera and smile before he took a photo.
When the photographer said “watch the birdie”, all of us looked at the camera and smiled.