bad egg
English
Etymology
An allusion to an egg that has gone bad or turned rotten.[1]
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈbæd ɛɡ/
Audio (AU): (file)
Noun
- (British, idiomatic) Someone whose behaviour is reprehensible or irresponsible; a rogue.
- 1906, Horatio Alger, Joe the Hotel Boy,
- "Dat's right!" piped up the newsboy who had brought the policeman. "I see him do de trick jest a minit ago!"
- "This is a plot against me!" fumed the swindler.
- "Dat feller is a bad egg!" went on the newsboy. "His name is Bill Butts. He's a slick one, he is. Hits de country jays strong, he does!"
- 1914, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Mucker:
- I've been a fairly bad egg, Byrne, for a great many years; but, by George! I'm not entirely rotten yet.
- 1990, John Updike, Rabbit at Rest:
- My son had a drug problem and hired a bad egg as a chief accountant […]
- 1906, Horatio Alger, Joe the Hotel Boy,
Antonyms
Translations
rogue
See also
References
- ^ Gary Martin (1997–) “A bad egg”, in The Phrase Finder, retrieved 28 December 2017; Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “egg”, in Online Etymology Dictionary, retrieved 28 December 2017.