Idioms and Expressions with "egg"

Study the vocabulary list and complete the activities below.

Today we are looking at idioms involving eggs. Eggs are a staple in many kitchens, but in English, they also help us describe people's personalities, financial habits, and even embarrassing situations! Let’s explore these 6 "egg-cellent" expressions.

• 1. A bad egg: A person who is dishonest, unreliable, or behaves in a bad way. Equivalent in Portuguese: Um mau elemento / Alguém que não presta.
  • I knew he was a bad egg the moment he started lying to his colleagues.
  • Don't hang out with him; everyone knows he's a bad egg.
  • Every family has a bad egg who causes trouble at gatherings.
• 2. Walk on eggshells: To be extremely cautious about what one says or does around someone to avoid upsetting or offending them. Equivalent in Portuguese: Pisar em ovos.
  • Everyone at the office is walking on eggshells because the boss is in a terrible mood.
  • I feel like I have to walk on eggshells whenever I talk to her about her cat.
  • After their big argument, they were walking on eggshells around each other.
• 3. Put all your eggs in one basket: To depend entirely on one single plan, person, or opportunity, which is risky if that thing fails. Equivalent in Portuguese: Depositar todas as suas fichas em uma única coisa.
  • Don't put all your eggs in one basket when applying for jobs; apply to several places.
  • Investing all your savings in a single stock is like putting all your eggs in one basket.
  • She decided to apply to three different universities because she didn't want to put all her eggs in one basket.
• 4. Nest egg: An amount of money that has been saved or kept for a special purpose, usually for retirement or the future. Equivalent in Portuguese: Pé de meia / Reserva financeira.
  • They have built up a nice little nest egg for their retirement.
  • It’s important to start saving early to have a nest egg for emergencies.
  • She used her nest egg to travel around the world after she quit her job.
• 5. Have egg on your face: To look stupid or feel embarrassed because of something you have done or a mistake you made. Equivalent in Portuguese: Ficar com cara de tacho / Passar vergonha.
  • The politician had egg on his face after the statistics proved him wrong.
  • I really had egg on my face when I called him by the wrong name all night.
  • If this project fails after all your promises, you'll have egg on your face.
• 6. A good egg: A person who is kind, reliable, and helpful. (The opposite of a "bad egg"). Equivalent in Portuguese: Uma boa pessoa / Gente fina / Sangue bom.
  • You can always count on Tom; he’s a real good egg.
  • My neighbor helped me carry my groceries; she's such a good egg.
  • We need more people like her in the company; she’s a good egg.

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Definition Matching

Drag and drop the idiom to its correct meaning. (Mobile users: tap the word, then tap the box to place it).

Nest egg

A bad egg

Walk on eggshells

Have egg on your face

A good egg

A. To be very careful around someone.

B. To feel embarrassed by a mistake.

C. A kind and reliable person.

D. Money saved for the future.

E. A dishonest or trouble-making person.

Activity 2: Gap Fill

Complete the sentences with the correct idiom. Change the verb form if necessary.

1. My grandfather started his when he was only twenty years old.

2. I was around my sister all day because she was very stressed.

3. I know you want this house, but don't . Keep looking at other options too.

4. The CEO when the new product broke during the live demonstration.

5. You should trust her; she’s a and will never let you down.

Activity 3: Reading Comprehension

Read the dialogue and select the correct answers.

Julia: "I'm so worried about the investment I made. I put all my savings into that new tech company."
David: "Julia! You shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket. What if they fail?"
Julia: "I know, I'm walking on eggshells every time I check the stock market. But the manager seemed like such a good egg!"
David: "Well, sometimes even a good egg can make mistakes. I hope you don't end up with egg on your face."

1. What did Julia do with her savings? A) She kept them safely in her bank account. B) She put all of them into one new tech company. C) She used them to buy a basket of eggs.

2. Why is Julia "walking on eggshells" according to the text? A) Because she is anxious and worried every time she checks the stock market. B) Because she is hiding from the manager of the company. C) Because she literally broke some eggs in her kitchen.

3. What is David’s fear for Julia at the end of the dialogue? A) That she will become a bad egg. B) That she will make a lot of money very quickly. C) That she will be embarrassed or look foolish if the investment fails.