expression

nest egg

say it: nest·EGG

savings set aside for the future

In Banking & Finance

In more detail

1. (noun) money saved for the future, especially for retirement or a special purpose

2. (noun) a real egg placed in a nest to encourage a hen to lay eggs there

Examples

1. She's been building a nest egg for years so she can buy a house.
2. Farmers put a nest egg in the henhouse to encourage hens to lay their eggs there.

How to use nest egg

Nest egg is used to describe a sum of money set aside for future financial security, typically retirement or a major expense. It carries a positive connotation of prudent saving and planning. The metaphor suggests something precious and carefully protected, making it popular in financial and personal planning contexts, though it is somewhat informal compared to purely financial terminology like 'capital' or 'endowment'.

Common phrases

build a nest egg
accumulate a nest egg
substantial nest egg
secure nest egg
retirement nest egg

Synonyms

savings · fund · reserve · stash · piggy bank

A common mistake

Learners sometimes treat 'nest egg' as a countable noun requiring a determiner (e.g., 'a nest egg' is correct, but 'build nest egg' without an article is incorrect in standard usage).

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