Phrasal verb Egg on

One of the strangest phrasal verbs in the English language is the phrase “egg on.” This post will explain what it means and will give examples of how it is used.

The phrase “egg on” means to encourage someone to do something and it usually refers to something negative. A more accuratedefinition of “egg on” would be to persistently try to provoke someone to do something.

Contrary to popular assumption, this phrase has nothing to do with literal eggs. Instead it is an old variation of the word “edge” which meant “urge.” So to “egg someone on” meant to urge them to do something. It did not come to refer to something negative until later. Here is an example of how it is used:

The bully teased the girl and his friends egged him on until she went home crying.

Here is another example of how this phrase is used:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/21/thousands-egg-mollys-hatching-owlets-online/

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