Dictionary

lay an egg en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (of oviparous animals, qualifier:literal) To produce an egg.
   • During the mutiny of 1857–58, when several young surgeons had arrived in India, whose services were urgently needed at the front, it is said that the Head of the Department to which they had reported themselves, directed them immediately to 'lay a dawk.' One of them turned back from the door, saying: 'Would you explain, Sir; for you might just as well tell me to lay an egg!' 1903, Henry Yule & al., Hobson-Jobson..., s.v. "DAWK, To lay a"
2. (figuratively, idiomatic, of a person or group of persons) To produce a failure or flop; to do something which is unsuccessful.
   • That author usually writes good stuff, but he really laid an egg with that last piece.
3. (endearing, euphemistic, figuratively, humorous, idiomatic, of a person) Synonym of grow a tail.

Forms

Synonyms

grow a tail

Translations (48)

pl złożyć jajo (to produce an egg) · it fare un buco nell'acqua (to produce a failure or flop) · tei acom (to produce an egg) · kix thíu (to produce an egg) · es poner un huevo (to produce an egg) · is verpa eggi (to produce an egg) · pt fracassar (to produce a failure or flop) · wa ponre èn oûe (to produce an egg) · th วางไข่ (to produce an egg) · fi munia (to produce an egg) · pl złożyć jaja (to produce an egg) · sw taga (to produce an egg) · es ovar (to produce an egg) · pt ovar (to produce an egg) · tr yumurtlamak (to produce an egg) · fr pondre un œuf (to produce an egg) · pt fazer fiasco (to produce a failure or flop) · pt pôr um ovo (to produce an egg) · ru потерпе́ть неуда́чу (to produce a failure or flop) · io ovifar (to produce an egg) · ja 卵を生む (to produce an egg) · et munema (to produce an egg) · ro oua (to produce an egg) · cmn 產卵 /产卵 (to produce an egg) · fo verpa (to produce an egg) · fur ovâ (to produce an egg) · pl składać jajo (to produce an egg) · hu tojást rak (to produce an egg) · pt botar um ovo (to produce an egg) · nl leggen (to produce an egg) · eo demeti ovon (to produce an egg) · fi epäonnistua (to produce a failure or flop) · ru провали́ться (to produce a failure or flop) · fr faire un flop (to produce a failure or flop) · fr faire un bide (to produce a failure or flop) · es huevear (to produce an egg) · sv värpa (to produce an egg) · ja 産卵する (to produce an egg) · fi munata (to produce a failure or flop) · de ein Ei legen (to produce an egg) · ru отложи́ть яйцо́ (to produce an egg) · es fracasar (to produce a failure or flop) · ru снести́ яйцо́ (to produce an egg) · ia poner ovo (to produce an egg) · es poner un huevo (to produce a failure or flop) · pl składać jaja (to produce an egg) · yue 產卵 /产卵 (to produce an egg) · ja 失敗する (to produce a failure or flop)