Thanks for killing the goose that laid the golden egg?

[Xavierka]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #382 "English Slang Idioms (113)", question 3

The head Research and Development technician had been fired last week for radically changing the product design of the company's leading product at the last moment without permission. The change was not for the better. The last comment from the boss before the technician was lead out of the building was, "Thanks for killing the ......... that laid the golden egg."

(a) cow
(b) mongoose
(c) goose
(d) snake

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #382 "English Slang Idioms (113)", answer 3

The head Research and Development technician had been fired last week for radically changing the product design of the company's leading product at the last moment without permission. The change was not for the better. The last comment from the boss before the technician was lead out of the building was, "Thanks for killing the goose that laid the golden egg."

Correct answer: (c) goose
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Do gooses lay the golgen eggs?

[Yankee]

Hi Xavierka

The idiomatic expression in the test is "kill the goose that lays the golden egg(s)". It means to ruin something that is valuable or good for you, usually by being greedy. The expression probably comes from one of Aesop's Fables:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Goose_that_Laid_the_Golden_Eggs

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

This test has a misspelling in the last sentence:

The past participle of the verb "to lead" is "led". Thus, the last sentence should be changed:

"The last comment from the boss before the technician was led out of the building ..."
.

[Torsten]

Hi Amy,

Thanks for pointing out that mistake -- I'll get fixed soon.
Regards,
Torsten
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