nest egg
NEST EG
/nɛst ɛɡ/
A sum of money saved for the future.
Usually implies a personal, private savings pot rather than an employer-managed pension.
The story behind the word. The term comes from the 17th-century practice of placing a real or ceramic egg in a hen's nest to encourage her to lay more eggs. Similarly, a 'nest egg' of money is meant to encourage further savings and growth.
Word relationships
- savings: The standard, literal term.
- reserve: More formal; often used by businesses.
Commonly confused with
- windfall: A nest egg is built slowly; a windfall is a sudden, unexpected gain of money.
Collocations
- build a nest egg
- retirement nest egg
- substantial nest egg
Example sentences
- "He had a little nest egg of his own." Classic Literature
- "Starting to save in your twenties is the best way to build a substantial nest egg for retirement." Financial Advice
Memory hook
A bird saves an 'egg' in its 'nest' for the future; you save money in your bank. Saved for the future.
When not to use
Too informal for a legal contract or a formal financial audit.
Fun facts
- The first recorded use of the term in a financial sense was in 1699.
Also appears in
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