English

Noun

bad egg ‎(plural bad eggs)

1. (idiomatic) Someone whose behaviour is reprehensible or irresponsible; a rogue
   • 1906, Horatio Alger, Joe the Hotel Boy,

     "Dat's right!" piped up the newsboy who had brought the policeman. "I see him do de trick jest a minit ago!"

     "This is a plot against me!" fumed the swindler.

     "Dat feller is a bad egg!" went on the newsboy. "His name is Bill Butts. He's a slick one, he is. Hits de country jays strong, he does!"

   • 1914, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Mucker,

     I've been a fairly bad egg, Byrne, for a great many years; but, by George! I'm not entirely rotten yet.

   • 1990, John Updike, Rabbit at Rest,

     "My son had a drug problem and hired a bad egg as a chief accountant ... "

Translations

See also

• good egg
• bad apple
• bad seed

Anagrams

• bagged