Last One In is a Rotten Egg

Meaning of Idiom ‘Last One In is a Rotten Egg’

Last one in is a rotten egg is used by children (or by adults with humor) as a way to urge others to join in. It especially refers to jumping into water. ¹

Usage

This expression may be related to the idioms good egg and bad egg, as a rotten egg is a very bad egg. However, it holds no real meaning and is simply a way to urge others to have fun.

Examples Of Use

“Last one in is a rotten egg!” yelled Susan, jumping into the pool.

“C’mon, the water isn’t that bad. Last one in is a rotten egg!”

“This is where the party is,” said Ed. “Last one inside is a rotten egg.”

“Last one in is a rotten egg,” someone yelled, causing the kids to stampede toward the swimming hole.

Origin

Used since at least the 1950’s.

More Idioms Starting with L

• Like Herding Cats
• Look What the Cat Dragged In
• Losing My Religion
• Like Nobody’s Business
• Lot Riding On Something, a

More Egg Idioms

• If We Had Ham We Could Make Ham and Eggs, If We Had Eggs
• Goose Egg
• Go Suck an Egg
• Nest Egg, a
• Egg On

More Food Related Idioms

• I Could Murder (A Food/Drink)
• Go Pear-shaped
• Chopped Liver
• Low-Hanging Fruit
• Know Which Side Your Bread is Buttered On

More Last Idioms

• Last of the Big Spenders
• Last Resort
• On Your (or One’s) Last Legs
• Last Word, the
• The Straw That Broke the Camel’s Back

More In Idioms

• In The Pink
• Sleep In
• In the Black
• In the Red
• Go In One Ear and Out the Other

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References

1. Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms]. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.