# egg on

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/egg-on
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To encourage or coax (a person) to do something, especially something foolhardy or reckless.

## Examples

- Stop egging him on — he will regret it later.
- The crowd kept egging the driver on until he agreed to race.
- Though she knew it was unwise, her friends egged her on, and she found herself standing on the edge of the diving board at midnight.

## Origin

From Middle English *eggen*, meaning to incite or instigate, from the Old Norse *eggja*. The root is derived from *egg*, or edge, and survives as a variant of the now archaic phrase to edge on.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.