Example
“Raising prices tenfold killed the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
Dictionary details
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
nest egg
CEFR B2a sum of money saved for retirement or the future
Neutral
egg on your face
CEFR B2to be embarrassed after being publicly wrong
Informal
walk on eggshells
CEFR B2to act very carefully to avoid upsetting someone
Informal
chicken-and-egg problem
CEFR C1a situation in which two things each depend on the other, so neither can get started
Neutral
golden goose
CEFR C1a reliable source of money that must be protected, not exploited to death
Neutral
golden handcuffs
CEFR C1financial incentives designed to keep a valuable employee from leaving
Informal
Source methodology
Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.