nest egg 是一个名词短语,指为将来储备的一笔钱,通常用于退休、应急或重大开支。中文常译为"储备金"或"积蓄"。
/ˈnɛst ˌɛɡ/
She has been building a nest egg for her retirement since her twenties.
她从二十多岁起就开始为退休攒积蓄。
After years of careful budgeting and disciplined saving, they finally accumulated a modest nest egg that gave them the confidence to start their own business.
经过多年精打细算和严格储蓄,他们终于攒下了一笔不大不小的储备金,这让他们有了创业的信心。
这个短语源自一种古老的养鸡技巧。农夫会在鸡窝里放一个假蛋(称为 nest egg),用来引诱母鸡继续在同一个窝里下蛋。到了17世纪,这个概念被引申为比喻义:就像假蛋能"吸引"更多的蛋一样,一笔初始的储蓄也能"吸引"更多的财富积累。因此,nest egg 逐渐演变为"储备金、积蓄"的意思。