What does egging mean?
"Egging" functions both as a noun and as the present participle of the verb "egg." In its most common modern use, it appears in the phrase "egg on," meaning to incite, urge, or provoke someone into action — typically something reckless or ill-advised that they might otherwise avoid. A friend egging you on dares you forward; the phrase implies pressure rather than mere encouragement. Separately, "egging" refers to the prank or act of vandalism of throwing raw eggs at houses, cars, or people, leaving behind a sticky, unpleasant mess — a usage especially common around Halloween and other mischief-prone occasions. The two senses are unrelated in origin: the incitement sense comes from Old Norse "eggja," meaning to goad or sharpen (related to "edge"), while the projectile sense derives simply from the noun "egg." Both uses are informal, and neither belongs in formal prose without careful framing. Understanding which sense applies depends entirely on context.
Present participle of "egg": to incite or urge someone on, especially toward something reckless; or to pelt something with eggs.
"She accused her classmates of egging him into making the bet."
Almost always appears with the particle "on" when referring to incitement.
The act or instance of throwing eggs at a person, building, or vehicle as a prank or vandalism.
"The mayor's office reported several cases of egging over the holiday weekend."
Informal register; common in news reports about pranks and vandalism.
When you egg someone on, you're not throwing eggs at all — the phrase traces back to an Old Norse word for "edge," meaning to push someone toward a sharp edge of action.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of egging
The verb "egg" meaning to incite comes from Old Norse "eggja," meaning to goad or urge on, derived from "egg" meaning edge or blade, and is cognate with the English word "edge." This sense entered Middle English through Scandinavian influence and has been used since medieval times, surviving almost exclusively in the phrase "egg on." The egg-throwing sense is a much more recent development, formed transparently from the noun "egg" and dating only from the twentieth century. The two senses are etymologically unrelated despite sharing a spelling.
How egging is actually used
The verbal sense "egg on" is informal but widely understood in both British and American English, and it always carries the connotation of pushing someone toward something unwise or risky. The sense involving actually throwing eggs is informal and associated mainly with pranks and juvenile vandalism. In formal writing, prefer synonyms like "inciting" or "urging."
Easily confused with egging
"Edging" means moving gradually sideways or trimming a border, while "egging" means either inciting someone or pelting with eggs.