nest egg
Noun: 1. A sum of money saved for the future: A "nest egg" is a specific amount of money that has been saved and set aside, typically over a long period, to be used for a future purpose such as retirement, a major purchase, or as a financial safety net.
The term "nest egg" is used to describe personal savings, emphasizing deliberate, long-term accumulation for a specific future goal. It is a common metaphor in personal finance. * It functions as a countable noun (e.g., a nest egg, their nest eggs). * It is often modified by adjectives like sizable, comfortable, retirement, or modest.
- After working for 40 years, they had built a substantial nest egg for retirement.
- Financial advisors recommend starting to build your nest egg as early as possible.
- They dipped into their nest egg to pay for their daughter's university education.
- "To build/cultivate/grow a nest egg": This phrasing emphasizes the gradual, careful process of saving and investing the money.
- He invested wisely to grow his nest egg over the decades.
- "To have/set aside a nest egg": This describes the state of possessing this reserved fund.
- It's reassuring to have a nest egg for emergencies.
- "To raid/dip into/use up one's nest egg": This describes the action of spending part or all of the saved money, often implying it is for an unplanned or significant expense.
- We had to dip into our nest egg to repair the roof after the storm.
- Savings (n. pl.): Money saved, typically more general and not always implying a single, dedicated fund for a distant future goal.
- Retirement fund/pension (n.): A specific type of nest egg or savings plan designed explicitly for income after retirement.
- Rainy day fund (n.): Savings reserved specifically for unforeseen emergencies or difficult times, which can be part of or separate from a larger nest egg.
- Savings: Money set aside.
- Reserve fund: Money kept available for future use.
- Stash: (Informal) A secret store of something, including money.
The term "nest egg" is itself an idiomatic expression. Its origin comes from the practice of placing a real or artificial egg in a hen's nest to encourage it to lay more eggs there, metaphorically representing the idea of encouraging the growth of one's savings. * "Don't put all your eggs in one basket": While not containing "nest egg," this related idiom offers crucial financial advice about diversification, warning against risking all of one's money (or "nest egg") in a single investment. * To protect your nest egg, remember: don't put all your eggs in one basket.
- device consisting of an artificial egg left in a nest to induce hens to lay their eggs in it
- a fund of money put by as a reserve