LAYS AN EGG Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

lays an egg

phrase

present tense third-person singular of lay an egg

as in trips

to make a mistake His book report was going perfectly until he laid an egg and got the main character's name wrong.

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as in fails

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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lays an egg

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
Furious drops the ball a bit in the interactions with Emma and Jay Easton, turning them into one-dimensional caricatures instead of complex villains, but honestly, this show isn’t really about them.

— Erin Qualey, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of drops the ball

Phrase

Make sure any profit from future sales will be enough to cover your financing costs — including interest and fees — even if demand falls short of your expectations.

— Carson Brunson, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
That is where so much of the current AI conversation still falls short.

— Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of falls short

Phrase

The overly matchy look combined with the heaviness of the red-toned stain on cherry wood looks tired and falls flat design-wise.

— Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2026
On the downside, the Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) isn’t fleshed out enough and the chemistry between Bale and Katie Holmes, as an assistant DA and the childhood friend of Bruce’s, falls flat.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 14 July 2026

Definition of falls 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.

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lays

lays an egg

lays away

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“Lays an egg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lays%20an%20egg. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lays an egg

phrase

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