good egg
Definition
Noun: - A good, kind, trustworthy, or dependable person. This term is an old-fashioned, informal expression of approval or affection.
Usage
- Used to describe someone who is fundamentally decent, reliable, and pleasant.
- Often carries a tone of warm, sometimes slightly old-fashioned, praise.
- Typically used in a predicative position (after a linking verb like "is" or "was").
Examples
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can sometimes imply a sense of unpretentious, old-fashioned virtue.
- It is often used in contrast to its opposite, "bad egg," which means an unpleasant or untrustworthy person.
Variants and Related Words
- Bad egg (noun, informal): A person who is dishonest, unpleasant, or unreliable.
- Be careful around him; I've heard he's a bit of a bad egg.
Synonyms
- Decent person
- Stand-up guy/gal (informal)
- Salt of the earth (idiom)
Idioms
- While "good egg" is itself an idiomatic expression, it is not typically part of a larger idiom. Its usage is self-contained to label a person's character.
Noun
-
(old-fashioned slang) a good person
