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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

egg on one's face en · NOUN

Etymology

Attested by 1948.

Meanings

  1. (informal, uncountable) Embarrassment or humiliation; damage to one's reputation.
    • I hope the bishop of Hereford comes out of this with a great deal of egg on his face. 2007 April 1, “Bishop blocks gay youth worker's job”, in The Observer:
    • He really has egg on his face after that gaffe.

Relateds

lose face

Translations (8)

fr être en porte-à-faux (suffer embarrassment or humiliation) · fi tahrata maineensa (suffer embarrassment or humiliation) · de Schamesröte im Gesicht (suffer embarrassment or humiliation) · nl een figuur slaan (suffer embarrassment or humiliation) · it fare una figuraccia (suffer embarrassment or humiliation) · ru уда́рить в грязь лицом (suffer embarrassment or humiliation) · cmn 面上無光 /面上无光 (suffer embarrassment or humiliation) · cmn 出醜 /出丑 (suffer embarrassment or humiliation)