7 Egg-Related Idioms and Expressions for Easter
These eggy idioms are cracking good additions to your vocabulary this Easter.
With Easter just around the corner, eggs start to appear everywhere. Eggs are used in Easter celebrations around the world, especially in decorations and festive foods, and have long been symbols of new beginnings, fragility, and wisdom.
Unsurprisingly, eggs have made their way into everyday language in the form of idioms and expressions. Let’s explore some useful egg-related idioms to rein in spring!
1. Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
Meaning: Don’t risk everything on a single plan or investment.
Example: She invested all her savings in one startup. I told her not to put all her eggs in one basket!
2. To Be a Good Egg
Meaning: To be a kind, trustworthy, or good-natured person.
Example: I can always count on you to help when my work tasks start to pile up—you’re a good egg.
3. Avoir un oeuf a peler avec quelqu’un – "To have an egg to peel with someone" (French)
Meaning of 'Avoir un œuf à peler avec quelqu’un': To have a dispute or problem to settle, equivalent to English “to settle a score” or “to have a bone to pick (with someone).”
Example: J’ai un œuf à peler avec toi – pourquoi as-tu mangé mon dessert ?! (I have a bone to pick with you – why did you eat my dessert?!)
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4. To Be/Walk on Eggshells
Meaning: To be very careful in a delicate situation.
Example: Ever since the incident, I feel like I’ve been walking on eggshells around my manager.
5. To Egg Someone On
Meaning: To encourage or provoke someone to do something, especially something risky or unwise.
Example: I egged him on to change the wording in the slide presentation, but later had to admit that his original suggestion would have worked better.
6. Das Gelbe vom Ei – "The yellow of the egg" (German)
Meaning of 'Das Gelbe vom Ei': The best part of something; something ideal or perfect.
Example: Die Lösung ist nicht das Gelbe vom Ei, aber sie funktioniert. (The solution isn’t perfect, but it works.)
7. To Have Egg on One’s Face
Meaning: To be embarrassed or look foolish, especially after making a mistake or a wrong prediction.
Example: I stood there with egg on my face after calling our new product by the wrong brand name.
Why language learners should embrace these idioms
Egg idioms are a fun reminder that language is shaped by culture, humor, and shared human experiences. Whether you’re learning English, French, German, or another language, keeping your ear out for expressions like these can help you sound more fluent—and feel more connected to the culture behind the words.