PhrasesHub

Curate's egg

    Definitions

      • to describe something as having both good and bad qualities
        Used to convey that something is a mixture of both positive and negative aspects, often in a sarcastic or humorous way

      • to describe a situation or experience that is overall disappointing or unsatisfactory
        To express disappointment or dissatisfaction with something, often in a resigned or resigned manner

    Examples of Curate's egg

    • The company's financial report was a curate's egg, with some good news but mostly bad.

      In this idiomatic expression, a curate's egg is something that is partly good but partly bad, much like an egg that is partially rotten. The phrase comes from an old joke about a vicar who sent his curate (a priest's assistant) to fetch an egg for breakfast. The curate returned with an egg and said "I'm sorry, sir, but this egg is bad." The vicar replied "I'll take the bad parts and you take the good parts," cutting the egg in half to reveal one good half and one bad half. In this example, the company's financial report is like a curate's egg because there were some positive aspects, but overall, the report was disappointing.

    • Her husband's new novel was a curate's egg, with some intriguing elements but a disappointingly thin plot.

      In this example, the expression "curate's egg" is used to describe a situation where there are some positive aspects, but overall, something is lacking. The husband's novel has some interesting elements, but the plot is weak and unremarkable. This idiomatic expression helps to convey the idea that the novel is a mixed bag, with both good and bad elements.

    • The government's policy on education is a curate's egg, with some laudable initiatives but a lack of funding to implement them effectively.

      In this example, the expression "curate's egg" is used to describe a situation where there are some positive aspects, but the overall result is flawed. The government's policy on education has some commendable initiatives, but the lack of funding means that they cannot be implemented effectively. This idiomatic expression helps to convey the idea that the policy is a mixed bag, with both good and bad elements.

    • The chef's signature dish was a curate's egg, with some exquisite flavors but a few burnt bits and too much salt.

      In this example, the expression "curate's egg" is used to describe a situation where there are some positive aspects, but the overall result is flawed. The chef's signature dish has some delicious flavors, but there are also burnt bits and excessive salt, which detract from the overall experience. This idiomatic expression helps to convey the idea that the dish is a mixed bag, with both good and bad elements.

    • The director's latest movie received mixed reviews, with some critics calling it a masterpiece and others describing it as a curate's egg - good in parts.

      The idiom 'Curate's egg' refers to something that is partly good and partly bad, like a museum curator's gift of an egg, where the white is edible but the yolk is rotten.

    • The presentation given by the marketing team was a curate's egg - the data analysis was impressive, but the delivery was disorganized and some of the slides were unclear.

      This idiom is often used to say that something has both positive and negative aspects. In this example, the marketing team's data analysis was good, but other parts of the presentation were flawed.

    • The CEO's performance review was a curate's egg - she received high marks for her strategic thinking and decision-making, but her communication skills and leadership style need improvement.

      This idiom can be used to describe a person's performance or qualities when they have both strong and weak points. In this example, the CEO's strengths outweighed her weaknesses, but there is still room for improvement.

    • The charity event organized by the fundraising team was a curate's egg - the silent auction and raffle raised a significant amount of money, but the event planning and execution were chaotic and poorly executed.

      Here, the idiom 'Curate's egg' is being used to indicate that an event had both positive and negative aspects. In this case, the charity's fundraising efforts were successful, but the event itself was subpar.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "Curate's egg" is typically used to describe a situation or experience that is a mix of both good and bad qualities. It can also be used to convey overall disappointment or dissatisfaction with something. This idiom is often used in a sarcastic or humorous way to highlight the irony or absurdity of a situation.

    Origin of "Curate's egg"

    The origin of this idiom can be traced back to a cartoon published in the British satirical magazine Punch in 1895. The cartoon, titled "True Humility," depicts a timid curate (a clergyman) having breakfast with a bishop. When the bishop asks the curate how he likes his egg, the curate replies, "Oh, I assure you, parts of it are excellent!" This phrase was then used as a metaphor for something that is a mixture of good and bad qualities.

    Over time, the idiom "Curate's egg" became a popular expression in British English to describe a situation or experience that is a mix of both good and bad aspects. It is now used in a variety of contexts, from describing a mediocre meal to commenting on a disappointing movie or book. This idiom has also made its way into American English, although it is not as commonly used as in British English.

    In conclusion, the idiom "Curate's egg" is a clever and humorous way to describe a situation or experience that is a mixture of both positive and negative qualities. Its origin in a satirical cartoon adds to its charm and makes it a well-known phrase in the English language.