What it means
A hidden surprise tucked into a film, game or app for sharp-eyed fans to discover: a secret room, a cheeky message in the credits, a nod to another work. Half the fun is hunting for them and bragging when you spot one nobody else did.
Usage examples
"The film has an easter egg in the final shot that ties into the sequel."
"Fans found an easter egg with the developers' names hidden in the menu."
"Yo, there's an easter egg in the game credits if you leave it idle for a minute."
"They snuck a tiny easter egg into the app icon and now the whole group chat's losing it."
Where it comes from
It comes from Easter egg hunts, where hidden eggs are tucked away for people to find. In the late 1970s, software and game makers started using the term for secret features and little hidden jokes inside their work. From there it spread into films, apps, TV, and pretty much any media with a wink to hide.
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