lay an egg

Definitions

1. To produce an egg.
2. To produce a failure or flop; to do something which is unsuccessful.
   idiomatic, usually

Equivalents

Examples

“During the mutiny of 1857–58, when several young surgeons had arrived in India, whose services were urgently needed at the front, it is said that the Head of the Department to which they had reported themselves, directed them immediately to 'lay⟳ a dawk.' One of them turned back from the door, saying: 'Would you explain⟳, Sir; for you might just as well tell⟳ me to lay⟳ an egg!'”

“That author usually writes good stuff, but he really laid an egg with that last⟳ piece.”

CEFR level