curate's eggn.

Brit.

/ˌkjʊərəts ˈɛɡ/,

/ˌkjɔːrəts ˈɛɡ/, U.S.

/ˈkjʊrəts ˈɛɡ/,

/ˈkjʊˌreɪts ˈɛɡ/

Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: curate n., egg n.

Etymology: < the genitive singular of curate n. + egg n.The expression is usually attributed to a cartoon by George Du Maurier which appeared in Punch in November 1895, although an earlier version of the joke appeared in the magazine Judy in May of that year. The joke features a timid curate who is served with a bad egg at breakfast with his bishop:1895 Judy 22 May 245 Scene—bishop's breakfast table. Bishop (to timid Curate on a visit). Dear me, I'm afraid your egg's not good! Timid Curate. Oh, yes, my Lord, really—er—some parts of it are very good.1895 Punch 9 Nov. 222 True Humility. Right Reverend Host. ‘I'm afraid you've got a bad Egg, Mr. Jones!’ The Curate. ‘Oh no, my Lord, I assure you! Parts of it are excellent!’

Chiefly British, Australian, and New Zealand.

1. Used as a comparison (esp. in like the curate's egg) to convey that something has both good and bad elements.Originally with reference to the cartoon: see etymology.

ΚΠ

1896 Edinb. Evening News 19 May (Fourth ed.) It is a disappointing play, but that is because it promises so well to begin with. Like the curate's egg at the Bishop's breakfast table, it is very good indeed—in parts.

1905 Minister's Gaz. Fashion Aug. 141/1 The past spring and summer season has seen much fluctuation. Like the curate's egg, it has been excellent in parts.

1987 Third Way Oct. 8/2 The jumbled pattern of British culture has little coherence and is very similar to the curate's egg.

1998 Timber Grower Autumn 11/3 The problem is that unlike the curate's egg, it is either acceptable as a whole or not at all, and without appropriate changes, the answer will have to be no!

2003 T. P. Coogan Ireland in Twentieth Cent. (2004) ii. 86 His time in America closely resembled the curate's egg.

2. Something which has both good and bad elements; something which is good (only) in parts.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > variety > [noun] > thing of mixed character

curate's egg1915

1915 Bookman Aug. 144/2 But what does he give us? A mess of pottage—or a curate's egg, if you prefer that—where fine, descriptive passages in good English, and showing a sensitive nature that appreciates beauty, go cheek by jowl with bad grammar, and casual intimacies.

1962 Oxf. Mag. 22 Nov. 91/1 All the same it is a curate's egg of a book. While the whole may be somewhat stale and addled, it would be unfair not to acknowledge the merits of some of its parts.

1998 Town & Country Planning 67 37/3 The day is a curate's egg in terms of outcomes.

2005 Guardian (Nexis) 11 Mar. (Friday section) 15 Purely on cinematic terms, Jarman's film is bit of a curate's egg.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021).

单词	curates egg
释义	curate's eggn. Brit. /ˌkjʊərəts ˈɛɡ/, /ˌkjɔːrəts ˈɛɡ/, U.S. /ˈkjʊrəts ˈɛɡ/, /ˈkjʊˌreɪts ˈɛɡ/ Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: curate n., egg n. Etymology: < the genitive singular of curate n. + egg n.The expression is usually attributed to a cartoon by George Du Maurier which appeared in Punch in November 1895, although an earlier version of the joke appeared in the magazine Judy in May of that year. The joke features a timid curate who is served with a bad egg at breakfast with his bishop:1895 Judy 22 May 245 Scene—bishop's breakfast table. Bishop (to timid Curate on a visit). Dear me, I'm afraid your egg's not good! Timid Curate. Oh, yes, my Lord, really—er—some parts of it are very good.1895 Punch 9 Nov. 222 True Humility. Right Reverend Host. ‘I'm afraid you've got a bad Egg, Mr. Jones!’ The Curate. ‘Oh no, my Lord, I assure you! Parts of it are excellent!’ Chiefly British, Australian, and New Zealand. 1. Used as a comparison (esp. in like the curate's egg) to convey that something has both good and bad elements.Originally with reference to the cartoon: see etymology. ΚΠ 1896 Edinb. Evening News 19 May (Fourth ed.) It is a disappointing play, but that is because it promises so well to begin with. Like the curate's egg at the Bishop's breakfast table, it is very good indeed—in parts. 1905 Minister's Gaz. Fashion Aug. 141/1 The past spring and summer season has seen much fluctuation. Like the curate's egg, it has been excellent in parts. 1987 Third Way Oct. 8/2 The jumbled pattern of British culture has little coherence and is very similar to the curate's egg. 1998 Timber Grower Autumn 11/3 The problem is that unlike the curate's egg, it is either acceptable as a whole or not at all, and without appropriate changes, the answer will have to be no! 2003 T. P. Coogan Ireland in Twentieth Cent. (2004) ii. 86 His time in America closely resembled the curate's egg. 2. Something which has both good and bad elements; something which is good (only) in parts. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > variety > [noun] > thing of mixed character curate's egg1915 1915 Bookman Aug. 144/2 But what does he give us? A mess of pottage—or a curate's egg, if you prefer that—where fine, descriptive passages in good English, and showing a sensitive nature that appreciates beauty, go cheek by jowl with bad grammar, and casual intimacies. 1962 Oxf. Mag. 22 Nov. 91/1 All the same it is a curate's egg of a book. While the whole may be somewhat stale and addled, it would be unfair not to acknowledge the merits of some of its parts. 1998 Town & Country Planning 67 37/3 The day is a curate's egg in terms of outcomes. 2005 Guardian (Nexis) 11 Mar. (Friday section) 15 Purely on cinematic terms, Jarman's film is bit of a curate's egg. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021). < n.1896
随便看	plusfoured plush plush horse plush it plush stitch plush toy plush velvet plush velveteen plush-bottomed plush-bound plush-capped plush-clad plush-coloured plush-copper plush-covered plush-fitted plush-framed plush-lined plush-wearing plush-weaver plushbottomed plushbound plushcapped plushclad plushcoloured