good egg
A good person, someone to be trusted; a friend.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You can trust him because he is a good egg.”
“My coworker is a good egg who always helps new staff.”
“I was worried about the move, but my new neighbor helped me carry all the boxes; he is a real good egg.”
“When I lost my wallet at the station, a good egg found it and contacted me immediately to return everything.”
“You should ask your cousin for advice because she is a good egg and will tell you the truth.”
“Despite the difficult circumstances, he remained a good egg, consistently offering support and kindness to everyone who crossed his path.”
disputed origin
Probably a humorous antonym of bad egg, used to denote a person of dependable character as a contrast to a rogue or one whose behaviour is reprehensible. The term follows the logic of the schoolyard, where a social standing is determined by the perceived freshness of the specimen. No specific date or individual is credited with the coinage, though it survives as a counterpart to the earlier, less favourable label.
- 01
a good deal
Very much; to a great extent; a lot; lots.
- 02
a wild goose never laid a tame egg
Most things are inherited and predetermined.
- 03
all good
It's all good.
- 04
bad egg
Someone whose behaviour is reprehensible or irresponsible; a rogue.
- 05
bill of goods
A set of misleading or deceptive claims.
- 06
borrow and beg
[Cockney slang]egg
- 07
but good
To a high degree; very thoroughly; in a most definite manner.
- 08
come from a good place
To be motivated by decency, kindness, or good intentions.
Last updated August 10, 2026