the goose that laid the golden egg

A person, thing, or organization that is or has the potential to earn a lot of money for a long period of time. Taken from a folk tale of a goose that would lay a golden egg once a day, but which was killed by its owner because he wanted all of its gold at once. New carbon taxes have proved to be the goose that laid the golden egg for the government, providing a steady and much-needed source of revenue. College athletics, especially football, have always been the goose that laid the golden egg for universities, which earn significant sums from attendance at games and tournaments. Firing the programmer who created your most successful app is like killing the goose that laid golden egg.

See also: egg, golden, goose, laid, that

the goose that lays the golden egg

A person, thing, organization, etc., that brings or has the potential to bring continual success or prosperity for a long period of time. Taken from a folk tale of a goose that would lay a golden egg once a day, but was killed by its owner because he wanted all of its gold at once. New carbon taxes have proved to be the goose that lays the golden egg for the government, providing a steady and much-needed source of revenue. The company's smartphone line has always been the goose that lays the golden egg, driving exponential profits for nearly two consecutive decades. Firing the programmer who created your most successful app is like killing the goose that lays the golden egg.