lay an egg

phrase

Definition of lay an eggnext
1
as in trip
to make a mistake His book report was going perfectly until he laid an egg and got the main character's name wrong.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in collapse
to be unsuccessful The gymnast nailed perfect landings on her first two vaults but really laid an egg on the third.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay an egg
  1. drop the ball
  2. fall short
  3. fall flat
Phrase
  • Cruz James had Torrey Scott wide open at the 20 yard line and Scott drops the ball on what could’ve been a touchdown.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Which wideout or defensive back will literally and figuratively drop the ball?
    — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of drop the ball
Phrase
  • Cramer said the move was particularly striking because comparable sales actually fell short of expectations, but stronger-than-expected margins and profit forecast ultimately overshadowed that weakness.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Thankfully, the penalty didn't impact the game too much, but Oklahoma fell short, falling to Washington 28-17.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of fall short
Phrase
  • The habeas corpus action represented a last-ditch legal effort by Maxwell to secure her release after her appeals fell flat.
    — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Just last year, Nate Bargatze entered Emmys night as a peak-of-fame comedian, and ended the evening as the object of mass audience disgruntlement after a running joke about winners’ lengthy speeches taking money away from children in need fell flat.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of fall flat
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

layabouts
lay an egg
lay away
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lay an egg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20an%20egg. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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