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What happens if you over-egg the pudding?
Thus in the original phrase it means to mix a pudding too much before baking it and so spoil it. Not to “over-egg the pudding” means not to spoil something by ‘improving’ it too much. The eggs add a richness to the pudding, but enough is enough.
Where did the saying over-egg the pudding come from?
It originated as a simple literal phrase alluding to the way that baked foods may be spoiled by using too many eggs. The earliest examples of the phrase in print that I know of are from 1845 Robert Smith Surtees’ novel Hillingdon Hall, 1845: ‘We mustn’t over-egg the pudding,’ as the Yorkshire farmers say.
What is the meaning of over-egg?
(ˌoʊˈvər ɛg ) verb transitive. British, Informal. to do too much of; elaborate on excessively; overdo: used mainly in the phrase over-egg the (or one’s) pudding, to mar an undertaking by doing more than is necessary or desirable.
What does with might and main means?
: with might and main : vigorously such as any sage practical politician would strive might and main to avoid— G. E. G. Catlin.
What does turn over a new leaf?
turn over a new leaf. Make a fresh start, change one’s conduct or attitude for the better, as in He promised the teacher he would turn over a new leaf and behave himself in class.
What appears out of thin air?
When something shows up out of thin air, it appears suddenly and dramatically. You can use this phrase to describe a physical appearance, like how a magician makes a rabbit appear out of thin air. It can also describe ideas, thoughts, or stories.
Was cut short meaning?
: to end (something) earlier than expected We had to cut our vacation short. The speech was cut short.
What does it mean to purloin something?
steal, pilfer, filch, purloin mean to take from another without right or without detection. steal may apply to any surreptitious taking of something and differs from the other terms by commonly applying to intangibles as well as material things.
What does pales into insignificance mean?
chiefly British. : to appear less large or important when compared with something else Your financial debt pales into insignificance when you compare it with mine.
What is a mane of hair?
English Language Learners Definition of mane : long, thick hair growing from the neck of a horse or around the neck of a lion. : long, thick hair on a person’s head. See the full definition for mane in the English Language Learners Dictionary.
What does it mean to have your feathers ruffled?
informal. : to upset or offend people Her research has been ruffling feathers for years. His critical remarks ruffled the feathers of the board members. I agreed to do what they wanted because I didn’t want to ruffle any feathers.
How and when should the leaf be turned over?
If you say that you are going to turn over a new leaf, you mean that you are going to start to behave in a better or more acceptable way. He realized he was in the wrong and promised to turn over a new leaf.