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ESL forum > Message board > Phrase of the Day    

Phrase of the Day



ldthemagicman
United Kingdom

Phrase of the Day
 
Hello, Everyone!
 
Thank you, Douglas, for choosing me as Winner of Phrase of the Day!
 
The phrase for today is: "To egg on".  This slightly unusual phrase is frequently used in conversation in the UK, so what does it mean?  By all means, consult your dictionaries, but don �t tell us the correct answer.
 
Please, describe this phrase, with examples!  Give us your witty, whacky, wordy, windy, wily, worthy, wobbly, wishy-washy, whimsicalities of wisdom, k-wickly.
 
I realise that different Members have different opinions of different aspects of ESLP.  For a Club which welcomes so many diverse people, with diverse languages, and diverse abilities, that is an extremely good feature.
 
Consequently, ESLP is not the usual "Blah-Blah-Blah" type of organisation, but is bubbllng with enthusiasm; has a widely varied programme; and is overflowing with prudent, professional, practical advice.
 
Many people in society are unpleasant, ungrateful, and unhelpful individuals.   By contrast, generally speaking, a large number of Teachers are unspoilt, unselfish, and undemanding in their attitudes.
 
The Best Part of being on ESLP is that the majority of its Members are good, inspired, outstanding Teachers, who are dedicated to their Students and care about them deeply.
 
I hope that Phrase of the Day can continue, because it provides a light-hearted break for those Members who read it, and also for those who participate in it.
 
In the same way that Practical Games are an extremely useful Learning Tool for Students in the Classroom, Word Games are equally useful for Teachers in the Forum.  They encourage co-operation and investigation, analysis and synthesis, comedy and camaraderie.
 
Moreover, (although few Members make their happiness publicliy known), numerous individuals have written to me expressing their joy and pride at being selected as the Winner, and saying how much English they have learned from the many ideas expressed by Contestants.
 
When ESLP decisions are being made, we should not forget the Voice of the Silent Majority.
 
I hope that Phrase of the Day continues.
 
Les

5 Sep 2011      





maryse pey�
France

Hi dear Les I think of 2 possible daffynitions :
 
 When human beings take a plane the plane takes off then lands. That �s why when a fly wants to stop flying - these little insects may be exhausted from time to time, may they ? - and that it sees a bald man it immediately thinks of a landing runway and it happily eggs on...
 
The second one is about the habits of ostrichs. As you all know ostrichs are tall birds and when the female, specially the absent-minded ones, come to lay their eggs in the cannibals � country they hardly notice the plate well hidden under their tail. Inevitably the shell of their ex-future baby breaks egging on the hot plate for the cannibals � delight and the ostrich �s despair....
 
Thanks dear Les for your enthusiasm !
 
 

5 Sep 2011     



misseleonora
Argentina

it means to wait endlessly for a man to get interested in oneself. Generally used for old maids that have no real chance of getting married soon. 

example: You are such a chatter box, egg on! 

Nice words Les! I hope WOD continues too . . .

Miss E.


5 Sep 2011     



englishchris
Germany

Hi everybody,

It is a term used by chicken farmers. If a hen doesn �t lay enough eggs you put a fake egg, usually made from plaster, into her nest to stir her enthusiasm for laying eggs. This process is called "to egg on" a hen.

5 Sep 2011     



eddie_teacher
Brazil

To stimulate, to motivate

5 Sep 2011     



ascincoquinas
Portugal

EGG ON means when someone  is very angry and through eggs into someone �s face....Evil Smile


NOT POLITE BUT IT DOES HAPPEN. Take a look at this picture:





Wacko




5 Sep 2011     



edrodmedina
United States

"Egg on" is an archaic phrase that hippie dippie chickens from the 60s would say when in agreement with someone as in "War is not the answer." "Egg on man, egg on."

BTW..Thanks Les. When words, ideas, or Google fail us you are always there.

5 Sep 2011     



Mariethe House
France

Les, You are very tiring!! You always ask the same questions and always insist upon the same things!! well,You see your "egg on" thing is another strange and bizarre distortion of yours!
When someone says: " where �s WOD gone" ? You in your terrible Norse accent ( You remember: my kingdom for a Norse!) reply : "egg on to oblivion"! The fact that you are a native does not mean you can speak proper English!!(Wink to all natives!) No , no no, les! How many times shall I have to tell you that you should say: " it �s gone into oblivion,it �s gone.... not egg on! Come on Les ! Speak proper!
Of course I am joking!Big smile

5 Sep 2011     



gloriawpai
Brazil

Les, egg on! I �m ordering my eggs the way I like them, sunny side up. Oh, and please, I �d like some coffee, decaffeinated.

6 Sep 2011     



moravc
Czech Republic

To egg on?
I think it means "to hit the nail on the head" (with a hammer OR something else).
(BTW this idiom is used in my home town as well ! )
The meaning: do exactly the right thing.
EG: Les egged on again. He is a smart guy.

Just a small question about your "speech":
camaraderie - is it a word of Slavic origin, Les ???

(kamar�d in Czech means "a friend" in English...)

6 Sep 2011     



Apodo
Australia

Hello Comrades! 

To renege on is to go back on one �s word and not do something as one had promised.
To egg on is the opposite- one keeps all one �s promises - hence the term �A good egg �.
He did all the washing up. What a good egg!
 

6 Sep 2011     

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