Nest egg
Meaning
A sum of money saved up over time to be used in the future, typically for retirement or a specific large expense.
Origin
The phrase "nest egg" originates from the age-old practice of poultry farming. Farmers would place a real or artificial egg, often made of ceramic or wood, into a hen's nest. This decoy, known as a 'nest egg,' served a crucial purpose: it signaled to the hen that the spot was safe and active, encouraging her to lay her own eggs there and build up a full clutch. The initial, solitary egg acted as a catalyst, prompting the hen to accumulate more. This vivid rural image was eventually adopted into the English lexicon as a metaphor for an initial sum of money that, through careful saving and growth, accumulates into a significant fund for future needs, much like a hen's growing collection of eggs.
Examples
- They had been diligently saving for years, building up a substantial nest egg for their children's university education.
- After decades of hard work, her nest egg was large enough to allow her to retire comfortably and travel the world.