egg
A round object with a shell that comes from a bird and contains a baby bird before it hatches.
A round or oval object with a hard or leathery shell produced by a bird, containing the developing embryo and its food supply.
A cell from a female that can grow into a baby when joined with a male cell.
A female reproductive cell, especially in animals and humans, that can develop into a new individual when fertilized.
To push someone to do something that may be bad or dangerous.
To urge or provoke someone to do something, often something unwise or daring.
- Base: egg
- Plural: egg, eggs
- Base: egg
- 3rd Person Singular: eggs
- Present Participle: egging
- Past: egged
egg on someone's face
1Feeling embarrassed after failure
Feeling silly or embarrassed because you made a mistake or failed at something.
- He had egg on his face after his prediction turned out to be wrong.
- The company was left with egg on its face when the product failed.
egg someone on
1Urge someone to act recklessly
To push someone to do something that might be bad or dangerous.
- They egged him on to try the stunt.
- She kept egging me on to tell the joke.
walk on eggshells
1Act very carefully around someone
To be very careful about what you say or do so you don’t make someone upset or angry.
- Since the argument, I’ve been walking on eggshells around her.
- You have to walk on eggshells when he’s in a bad mood.
put all your eggs in one basket
1Rely completely on one thing
To risk everything on one plan, idea, or opportunity instead of having several options.
- Investing all your money in one company is putting all your eggs in one basket.
- Investing all your money in one company is like putting all your eggs in one basket.
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—apply for several jobs.
- She put all her eggs in one basket by applying only to one university.