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Definitions

lay an egg

VERB
act
Synonyms
STRONGEST
enact perform play portray
STRONG
burlesque characterize dramatize emote feign ham impersonate mime mimic mug parody personate personify pretend rehearse represent simulate star stooge strut
WEAK
be on bring down the house do a turn go on go over ham it up make debut play act play gig play part play role put it over say one's piece take part tread the boards
Antonyms
STRONGEST
direct fail prevent stop
WEAK
abstain cease discontinue give up halt hesitate idle refrain
VERB
play
Synonyms
STRONGEST
do perform portray present
STRONG
discourse enact execute ham impersonate personate playact represent
WEAK
act the part of ham it up play a gig read a part take the role of tread the boards
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fail
WEAK
direct listen watch work
VERB
play-act
Synonyms
WEAK
be on bring down the house burlesque characterize do do a turn dramatize emote enact feign go on go over ham ham it up impersonate make debut mime mimic mug parody perform personate personify play play gig play part play role portray pretend put it over rehearse represent say one's piece simulate star stooge strut take part tread the boards

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One of these is called a "brood ball," where they lay an egg in each ball, after they have buried it.

From Science Daily • Mar. 1, 2024

Rams 24, Seahawks 21: The consensus seems to be that the desperate Seahawks won’t lay an egg against the 5-11 Rams at home.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 6, 2023

Erect-crested penguins in the harsh Antipodes Islands in the South Pacific lay an egg that’s doomed to die.

From New York Times • Oct. 14, 2022

The Braves, meanwhile, picked an imperfect time to lay an egg, as they lost this game with their ace Max Fried on the mound and despite having a clear early advantage.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2021

When a dancer attempts to lay an egg, it is called a grand plié.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood