nest
A place that a bird makes to put its eggs and take care of its babies.
A structure that a bird builds or uses as its home, especially for laying eggs and raising its young.
The home of a small animal or many insects, where they live and have babies.
The place where a small animal or group of insects lives and keeps its young.
A small home or place that feels warm, safe, and comfortable.
A home or place that is small, private, and feels safe and comfortable.
A place with many bad people or bad things happening, like crime or hate.
A place where many people who do something bad are gathered, or where an unwanted activity is strongly present.
A group of things, like bowls or tables, that are different sizes and fit one inside or under another.
A set of similar objects of different sizes designed to fit inside or under each other.
When birds or small animals make nests and live in them, usually to lay eggs and care for babies.
When birds or small animals build nests and use them as their homes, especially for laying eggs and raising their young.
To put one thing inside or under another thing of a similar kind so they fit together neatly.
To place one object, group, or structure inside or under another similar one, especially so they stack or are contained within each other.
To put yourself or another person or thing in a soft, safe place where it feels comfortable.
To settle yourself or someone or something into a soft, protected, and comfortable position.
- Base: nest
- Plural: nests
- Base: nest
- 3rd Person Singular: nests
- Present Participle: nesting
- Past: nested
a nest of vipers
1Group of dangerous, treacherous people
A group of people who are very unkind, dishonest, or likely to hurt others, especially in a secret way.
- He called the corrupt committee a nest of vipers.
- She left the company, saying it was a nest of vipers and backstabbers.
- The novel portrays the royal court as a nest of vipers.
empty-nest syndrome
1Sadness when children leave home
The strong feeling of sadness or loss that some parents have when their children grow up and leave home.
- She struggled with empty-nest syndrome after her only son moved abroad.
- Counselors say empty-nest syndrome is common but usually passes with time.
- They tried new hobbies to cope with their empty-nest syndrome.
feather your (own) nest
1Use a position to enrich yourself
To get money or benefits for yourself, often in a secret or unfair way, by using your job or power.
- The politician was accused of feathering his own nest with public funds.
- Instead of helping the company, the directors just feathered their nests.
- She denied that she took the job only to feather her own nest.
fly the nest
1Leave parents’ home to live independently
To leave your parents’ home to live on your own as an adult.
- Their youngest finally flew the nest at eighteen.
- Many children are flying the nest later because of high rent prices.
- She’s not ready for her son to fly the nest just yet.
leave the nest
1Move out of parents’ home
To move out of your parents’ home for the first time and start living independently.
- Most of their friends have already left the nest.
- She plans to leave the nest after she finishes university.
- Leaving the nest can be exciting but also frightening.
love nest
1Secret or private place for lovers
A private home or room where two people in a romantic or sexual relationship meet, especially if the relationship is secret.
- The tabloids printed photos of the actor’s secret love nest.
- They rented a small love nest in the city where no one knew them.
- Reporters found out about the politician’s love nest with his girlfriend.
nest egg
1Money saved for future use
Money that you save over time to use later, often for retirement or for a special need.
- They used their retirement nest egg to buy a small house by the sea.
- She has built up a nice nest egg from years of careful saving.
- He doesn’t want to touch his nest egg unless there is an emergency.
empty nest
1Home after children have moved out
A home where children have grown up and moved away, leaving the parents alone.
- After their youngest left for college, they found themselves in an empty nest.
- Many parents feel lonely in their empty nest.
empty nest
2Home after children have left
A home where the children have grown up and left, so only the parents live there now.
- They are still getting used to the empty nest now that their youngest has gone to college.
- The couple decided to travel more once they found themselves in an empty nest.
- Many parents feel both freedom and sadness when they reach the empty nest stage.