# good egg

idiom

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

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- 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.

## 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. (disputed)

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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.