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What is the meaning of the idioms nest egg?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 18, 2026

Meaning: Savings set aside for future use. Example: Roger worked hard when he was young so that he could retire with a substantial nest egg in his fifties.

Why is it called nest egg?

The term originated from the practice of farmers putting eggs into the nest of hens to induce them to lay even more eggs. When you put money into a “nest egg” savings account.

What is the meaning of the idiom a nest?

(informal) a sum of money saved for the future: She has a nice little nest egg which she intends to use for travelling round the world one day. A nest egg was an egg left in a nest to encourage a chicken to continue to produce more eggs.

What does idiom egg mean?

To urge someone to do something that is usually negative. Example: His friends kept egging him on, but Daniel refused to steal the watch.

How do you use nest egg in a sentence?

In the course of the 35 years they had saved up a very nice nest egg for a rainy day. They are poor pensioners who have a small nest egg.

43 related questions found

What's another word for egg on?

In this page you can discover 31 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for egg on, like: goad, instigate, excite, spur, prod, provoke, incite, dissuade, propel, urge and galvanize.

Is Good egg an idiom?

It is the exact opposite of the original idiom – a bad egg. To describe somebody as a Good or Bad Egg would suggest they were either decent, reliable, and dependable or not. The idiom 'bad egg' first used in 1855 in Samuel A Hammett's novel Captain Priest generally included the phrase.

What does it mean to say egg?

Incite, urge ahead, provoke, as in Jack is always egging me on to drive faster, or Seemingly quiet, Margo actually eggs on Donald to quarrel with his staff. This expression has nothing to do with hen's eggs but comes from an Old Norse word, eggja, “to edge.”

What is the meaning of this idiom pushing up daisies?

informal + humorous. : to be dead We'll all be pushing up daisies by the time the government balances the budget.

What does the saying When Pigs Fly mean?

Definition of when pigs fly

—used to say that one thinks that something will never happen The train station will be renovated when pigs fly.

What does to feather your nest mean?

Acquire wealth for oneself, especially by taking advantage of one's position or using the property of others. For example, Bill's many profitable consulting assignments enabled him to feather his nest quite comfortably. This expression alludes to birds making a soft nest for their eggs. [

What is a nest of eggs called?

A clutch of eggs is the group of eggs produced by birds, amphibians, or reptiles, often at a single time, particularly those laid in a nest.

How do you get a nest egg?

To grow your nest egg, save a portion of your monthly income. In order to do that, you'll need to figure out your monthly expenses and create a budget. You should determine how much of your income you need to cover your fixed and variable expenses, plus how much you've been spending on nonessentials.

What's a good nest egg?

The Fidelity savings guidelines say a 40-year old should have a nest egg twice her annual income; by age 50, the egg should be four times income and at age 60, retirement savings should be six times current income.

What does painting the town red mean?

Definition of paint the town (red)

: to go out drinking, dancing, etc.

What does give the green light mean?

Definition of the green light

: permission to start or continue something (such as a project) His boss finally gave him the green light to start the new project.

What does the idiom a basket case mean?

Definition of basket case

1a informal : a person who is functionally incapacitated from extreme nervousness, emotional distress, mental or physical overwork, etc. I was so worried about losing my job that I was a complete basket case.

What does egg mean in British slang?

When you call your next door neighbor a good egg, it's clear that you're fond of her. The expression originally came from its opposite, bad egg, British public school slang from the 1800's for someone who was not nice. Fifty years later, good egg emerged as a casual way to talk about a good chap or a decent fellow.

What does it mean to goose egg?

: zero, nothing especially : a score of zero in a game or contest. Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More About goose egg.

Where does the phrase bad egg come from?

A bad egg is not a nice person — she's as unpleasant and disappointing as a literal bad, or spoiled, egg would be when you cracked it open. That's most likely where the figurative phrase came from, and it may have started as British public school slang.

Does an egg float or sink?

This is not a myth; fresh eggs sink while bad eggs float to the top. Simply fill a bowl with cold tap water and place your eggs in it. If they sink to the bottom and lay flat on one side, they are fresh and good to eat. A bad egg will float because of the large air cell that forms at its base.

What's another word for chicken egg?

In this page you can discover 55 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for egg, like: hen fruit, gravid, oval, nucleus, embryo, ovate, cell, bud, berry, chicken and ovicular.

What is a nest egg trust?

A nest egg trust is an irrevocable trust that protects your hard-earned savings and also helps you qualify for care benefits if you need some form of long-term care. There are many different types of trusts, and each depends on a person's goals and situation.

How do you live off nest eggs?

How to Live off of a Nest Egg

  1. Estimate your total nest egg. ...
  2. Calculate what withdrawing four percent of your nest egg annually will come to each month. ...
  3. Calculate your Social Security benefit. ...
  4. Plan your retirement lifestyle. ...
  5. Plan to moonlight at a part-time job if you desire extra money.

How do I protect my nest eggs?

10 Tips to Protect Your Nest Egg

  1. Don't be a “courtesy victim.” ...
  2. Don't be a courtesy victim. ...
  3. Always stay in charge of your money. ...
  4. Don't judge a book by its cover. ...
  5. Watch out for salespeople who prey on your fears. ...
  6. Don't make a tragedy worse with rash financial decisions. ...
  7. Monitor your investments and ask tough questions.