LAYING AN EGG Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

laying an egg

phrase

present participle of lay an egg

as in fumbling

to make a mistake His book report was going perfectly until he laid an egg and got the main character's name wrong.

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as in collapsing

to be unsuccessful The gymnast nailed perfect landings on her first two vaults but really laid an egg on the third.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying an egg

Phrase

Lawmakers were appalled at the US seemingly dropping the ball on coming to Ukraine’s aid.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 15 Oct. 2026
But Blakeman accused Hochul of dropping the ball on bringing justice for the shocking 2024 attack.

— Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of dropping the ball

Phrase

The final found of pre-election polls in Israel last week showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu falling short of a clear victory in the October 27 election.

— Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026
Based on this, today’s report concludes that global climate pledges are falling short.

— Simmone Shah, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of falling short

Phrase

Ohioans are getting bombarded with Republican ads on tax cuts, but the message is falling flat with many voters who feel the weight of higher prices.

— Jarrell Dillard, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2026
This season has been pockmarked by teams winning big games and falling flat the next; Indiana has to go to Michigan next week to try and buck that trend.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of falling flat

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laying

laying an egg

laying away

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“Laying an egg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20an%20egg. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of laying an egg

phrase

Example Sentences

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