ENGLISH
REFERENCE

good egg

idiom
Meaning

A good person, someone to be trusted; a friend.


Origin

first recorded 20th c. disputed origin

Probably a humorous antonym of bad egg (“someone whose behaviour is reprehensible or irresponsible; a rogue”). The earliest known usage of the phrase was by Rudyard Kipling in his 1904 book "Traffics & Discoveries": "'Good egg!' quoth Moorshed, and brought his hand down on the wide shoulders with the smack of a beaver's tail."

Examples
SIMPLE

You can trust him because he is a good egg.

CONTEXTUAL

I was worried about the move, but my new neighbor helped me carry all the boxes; he is a real good egg.

COMPLEX

Despite the difficult circumstances, he remained a good egg, consistently offering support and kindness to everyone who crossed his path.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a good deal

    Very much; to a great extent; a lot; lots.

  2. 02

    a wild goose never laid a tame egg

    Most things are inherited and predetermined.

  3. 03

    all good

    It's all good.

  4. 04

    bad egg

    Someone whose behaviour is reprehensible or irresponsible; a rogue.

  5. 05

    borrow and beg

    [Cockney slang]egg

  6. 06

    but good

    To a high degree; very thoroughly; in a most definite manner.

  7. 07

    come from a good place

    To be motivated by decency, kindness, or good intentions.

  8. 08

    curate's egg

    A thing which has good and bad parts, but is overall spoiled by the bad.

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