lay an egg, to
To fail spectacularly or make an embarrassing mistake. Originating in Britain’s cricket and later American vaudeville, this idiom paints a vivid picture of zeroes and flops. Remember, even Wall Street had its “egg-laying” moment in 1929!
Related and Similar Terms
- 💥 “Crash and burn” - An epic and usually very visible failure.
- 🚫 “Bomb” - To fail, usually in showbiz, e.g., “The movie bombed at the box office.”
- ⬇️ “Flop” - A complete and surefire failure.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
- Fail
- Fizzle out
- Come a cropper
Antonyms:
- Succeed
- Triumph
- Ace it
Quotes & Proverbs
- “The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.” – Theodore Roosevelt 🦅
- “Successful people are not without problems. They’re simply people who have learned to solve their problems.” – Albert Schweitzer
References in Literature and Pop Culture
- 📚 The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger – Holden often mentions feeling like he’s laying an egg.
- 🎥 The Producers – A whole movie and stage musical about orchestrating a flop.
- 🎵 Queen’s “The Show Must Go On” – A tribute to perseverance in the face of failure.
Fun Reads, Songs, and Movies
- 📖 Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut – Exploring failures of humanity in war.
- 🎬 Some Like It Hot (1959) – Comedy gold about characters who fumble their ways to success.
- 🎵 “Under Pressure” by Queen & David Bowie – A song dealing with life’s challenges and opportunities for failure and success.
Inspirational Thought
It’s said that the road to success is paved with failures. When you lay an egg, don’t let it rot. Pick it up, learn from it, and maybe hatch a new beginning! 🥚🚴♂️
### Lay an Egg, To: Common Origin?
- [x] Cricket
- [ ] Tennis
- [ ] Basketball
- [ ] Soccer
> **Explanation:** The term "lay an egg" originates from British cricket, where “getting a duck” meant failing to score (zero).
### Which idiom means the same as 'lay an egg'?
- [ ] Blessing in disguise
- [ ] Piece of cake
- [x] Crash and burn
- [ ] Spick and span
> **Explanation:** "Crash and burn" is a comparable idiom denoting failure.
### True or False: 'Lay an egg' has been used to describe Wall Street performances.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True, a headline in 1929 stated, "Wall Street Lays An Egg."
### Which of these expressions is ending in failure?
- [ ] Piece of cake
- [x] Fizzle out
- [ ] A blessing in disguise
- [ ] Take the cake
> **Explanation:** "Fizzle out" indicates something that fails or diminishes before fulfilling its potential.
### What industry is historically linked to the U.S. origin of 'lay an egg'?
- [ ] Finance
- [ ] Agriculture
- [x] Vaudeville
- [ ] Education
> **Explanation:** In the U.S., the term appears in nineteenth-century vaudeville, describing an unsuccessful show performance.
