Etymology Journal ยท W
What does that have to do with the price of eggs?
Meaning
- A witty way of pointing out that the previous statement is completely irrelevant to the conversation. It suggests the speaker is rambling or off-topic.
Humorous, deflecting
Used in a sentence
- We are talking about fixing the sink. What does that have to do with the price of eggs?
- I appreciate your story about the garden, but what does that have to do with the price of eggs?
- You keep bringing up your old job, but what does that have to do with the price of eggs?
The backstory
It likely evolved from older sayings about the price of tea in China. Replacing tea with eggs creates a more folksy and grounded imagery that fits rural American parlance.
Heard in
Midwest
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