Easter egg

Meaning

An unexpected reward or favor, often given at the end of a task or project.

Usage

• After completing all the tasks assigned to him, John was given an Easter egg from his boss as a reward.
• The teacher gave each student an Easter egg for their participation in the class discussion.
• I was surprised when my friend offered me an Easter egg after we finished our dinner.
• The company promised its employees an Easter egg if they met their sales target for the quarter.
• My husband always gives me an Easter egg every year on our anniversary.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in medieval Europe when eggs were traditionally hidden during the holiday of Easter and children would search for them. As they found eggs, they would collect them in their baskets or cages, and the largest or most perfectly shaped egg would be given to the winner. This act of finding a reward after completing a task or project is thought to have inspired the modern meaning of the idiom.

Synonyms in English

• Reward
• Bonus
• Incentive
• Payment
• Compensation

Synonyms in other languages

• Récompense (French) - A reward or compensation given for a task completed or an achievement made.
• Belohnung (German) - A reward or payment given for accomplishing something.
• Rewards (Arabic) - A reward or compensation given for completing a task or achieving an objective.
• Prémio (Portuguese) - A prize or reward given for a specific achievement or task completion.
• 賽獎 (Japanese) - A prize or award given to the winner of a competition or contest.

Similar Idioms

• new kid on the block

• out of the frying pan into the fire

• pie in the sky