sunny-side up

Meaning

This phrase describes a fried egg that is cooked on one side only, leaving the yellow yolk round, unbroken, and runny on top, resembling a bright sun. It is a very common way to order eggs in diners and restaurants.

Examples

• I would like two eggs, sunny-side up, with a side of toast, please.

  I would like two eggs, sunny-side up, with a side of toast, please.

• He loves dipping his toast into the yolk of a sunny-side up egg.

  He loves dipping his toast into the yolk of a sunny-side up egg.

• Cooking a perfect sunny-side up egg requires a low heat and a lid.

  Cooking a perfect sunny-side up egg requires a low heat and a lid.

• Do you prefer your fried eggs scrambled or sunny-side up?

  Do you prefer your fried eggs scrambled or sunny-side up?

• She served the burger with a sunny-side up egg on top.

  She served the burger with a sunny-side up egg on top.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want a sun-side up egg.

  ✓ I want a sunny-side up egg.

  The adjective is 'sunny-side,' not 'sun-side.'

• ✗ He fried the egg sunny side down.

  ✓ He fried the egg sunny-side up.

  If you cook it on both sides, it is called 'over easy,' 'over medium,' or 'over hard,' not 'sunny-side down.'

Related Expressions

Practice

• I'll have my eggs ___, please, so I can dip my bread.

  💡 Fried on one side with a runny yolk.

  Show answer

  sunny-side up

• She placed a beautiful ___ egg on top of her avocado toast.

  💡 Looks like a bright yellow sun on a white background.

  Show answer

  sunny-side up