Phrase guide

egg on one's face

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Embarrassment or humiliation; damage to one's reputation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, uncountable

Examples

  • He really has egg on his face after that gaffe.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Attested by 1948.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 面上無光 /面上无光 (miànshàngwúguāng) — suffer embarrassment or humiliation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 出醜 /出丑 (chūchǒu) — suffer embarrassment or humiliation
  • Dutch: een figuur slaan — suffer embarrassment or humiliation
  • Finnish: tahrata maineensa — suffer embarrassment or humiliation
  • French: être en porte-à-faux — suffer embarrassment or humiliation
  • German: Schamesröte im Gesicht — suffer embarrassment or humiliation
  • Italian: fare una figuraccia — suffer embarrassment or humiliation
  • Russian: уда́рить в грязь лицом (udáritʹ v grjazʹ licom) — suffer embarrassment or humiliation