laying an egg

Verb

lay an egg (third-person singular simple present lays an egg, present participle laying an egg, simple past and past participle laid an egg)

1. (literal) To produce an egg.
   • During the mutiny of 1857–58, when several young surgeons had arrived in India, whose services were urgently needed at the front, it is said that the Head of the Department to which they had reported themselves, directed them immediately to 'lay a dawk.' One of them turned back from the door...1903, Henry Yule & al., Hobson-Jobson..., s.v. "DAWK, To lay a"
2. (figuratively, idiomatic) To produce a failure or flop; to do something which is unsuccessful.
   • That author usually writes good stuff, but he really laid an egg with that last piece.
3. (endearing, euphemistic, figuratively, humorous, idiomatic) Synonym of grow a tail.

   Synonyms:

   grow a tail