egg in one's beer

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

egg in one's beer (countable and uncountable, plural eggs in one's beer)

1. (US) A bonus. [a 1944]

   What do you want? An egg in your beer?

   • 1953 February 26, “Eisenhower's First 35 Days”, in Los Angeles Times:

     Those who expected everyone to have an egg in his beer right after inauguration day are visibly disappointed.

   • 1979, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Labor and Human Resources, “Equal Employment Opportunity for the Handicapped Act of 1979”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎:

     Now, while you are here, let us see if we can even put some egg in the beer, and get a little more enlightenment from you.

   • 2002, William True, Deryck Tufts True, The Cow Spoke French: The Story of Sgt. William True, American Paratrooper in World War II‎:

     Referring to people who are always griping about war-time conditions the bartender mentions the expression “the grass is always greener,” and I refer to Americans who always want “egg in their beer."

   • 2014, James R Benn, Souvenir‎:

     Whaddy want, egg in your beer?