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

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

• Loudmouth, be a
• Let Bygones Be Bygones
• Leopard Can’t Change Its Spots, a
• Leave Holding the Bag
• Life of the Party

More Egg Idioms

• Good Egg
• Bad Egg
• Put All Your Eggs In One Basket

More Food Related Idioms

• Couch Potato
• Not For All the Tea in China
• Not My Cup of Tea
• Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk
• Eat Humble Pie

More Last Idioms

• On Your (or One’s) Last Legs
• Last Word, the
• Last Straw, the
• Last Person (or Thing), the
• Last-Ditch (effort, attempt)

More In Idioms

• Have Someone in the Palm of One’s Hand
• Runs in the Family
• Day In And Day Out
• In For It (or Something), to be
• In the Worst Way

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