What does "egg on your face" mean — and why is it funny?

informal

Meaning

To look foolish or embarrassed because of something you said or did.

Where it comes from

A twentieth-century American phrase. The picture is simply of someone left visibly, messily embarrassed, as though pelted with eggs.

Why it is funny

The humor is the cartoon mess of it. Embarrassment becomes a literal, visible smear on your face that everyone can see and you cannot quite wipe off in time.

Used in a sentence

"He confidently announced the wrong winner and ended up with egg on his face."