"True Humility" by George du Maurier, originally published in Punch, 1895.

The expression "a curate's egg" originally meant something that is partly good and partly bad, but as a result is entirely spoilt. Modern usage has tended to change this to mean something having a mix of good and bad qualities; an example in conversation would be, "Ah Tisshaw, how was your holiday?" "Somewhat of a curate's egg, I'm afraid; the hotel was top-notch, but the rain was most irksome." Image File history File links Curates Egg cartoon, Punch November 9, 1895. ... Image File history File links Curates Egg cartoon, Punch November 9, 1895. ... Self portrait of George du Maurier George Louis Palmella Busson du Maurier (6 March 1834 – 8 October 1896) was a British author who was born in Paris, France. ... Punch was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire published from 1841 to 1992 and from 1996 to 2002. ...

The phrase derives from a cartoon in the humorous British magazine Punch on 9 November 1895. Drawn by George du Maurier and entitled "True Humility", it pictured a timid-looking curate (a low-ranking church minister) taking breakfast in his bishop's house. A cartoon is any of several forms of illustrations with varied meanings that evolved from its original meaning. ... Punch was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire published from 1841 to 1992 and from 1996 to 2002. ... is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Self portrait of George du Maurier George Louis Palmella Busson du Maurier (6 March 1834 – 8 October 1896) was a British author who was born in Paris, France. ... From the Latin curatus (compare Curator), a curate is a person who is invested with the care, or cure (cura), of souls of a parish. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      This article is about a title...

The bishop says "I'm afraid you've got a bad egg, Mr Jones". Apparently trying to avoid offence or curry favor, the curate replies, "Oh, no, my Lord, I assure you that parts of it are excellent!"

The original sense of the expression referred to an objective understanding of the depicted scenario: since an egg that is even partly "bad" is effectively inedible, the supposedly "excellent" parts do not redeem it (the curate's flattering objection nonwithstanding). The more modern sense of the expression reflects the point of view the curate is trying (however insincerely) to argue: that the "excellent" parts compensate enough for the "bad" parts to render complaints – or at least declaring something a total loss – inappropriate.

Examples

Published examples of use cited by the OED: The Oxford English Dictionary print set The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a dictionary published by the Oxford University Press (OUP), and is the most successful dictionary of the English language, (not to be confused with the one-volume Oxford Dictionary of English, formerly New Oxford Dictionary of English, of...

• 1905 Minister's Gazette of Fashion "The past spring and summer season has seen much fluctuation. Like the curate's egg, it has been excellent in parts."
• 1962 Oxford Magazine "All the same it is a curate's egg of a book. While the whole may be somewhat stale and addled, it would be unfair not to acknowledge the merits of some of its parts."