squinting like a bag of nails

Verb

squint like a bag of nails (third-person singular simple present squints like a bag of nails, present participle squinting like a bag of nails, simple past and past participle squinted like a bag of nails)

1. (idiomatic) To squint very much, as though one's eyes were directed as many ways as the points of a bag of nails.
   • Does she squint like a bag of nails? Is she hideous? They always are!'
     The Earl stood back.'You may judge for yourself,' he said dryly. 'Miss Taverner, little though he may have recommended himself to you, I must beg leave to present my brother, Captain Audley.'1935, Georgette Heyer, Regency Buck, page 230