“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is an idiom in the English language that people use in everyday conversation. You have likely used this expression yourself at some point, but many people don’t know its true meaning. Understand the meaning of this idiom, learn where it came from, and see some example sentences to help you use it in daily conversation.
Meaning of the Idiom
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” means not to risk everything on a single venture or plan. It’s wise to spread out your risks so that if one thing fails, you don’t lose everything.
Origin of the Idiom
This idiom likely comes from the idea that if you put all your eggs in one basket and the basket falls, you could lose everything. It has been used for centuries to encourage caution and careful planning.
Example Sentences
1. Mark decided to invest in different stocks, remembering that it’s wise not to put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to money.
2. Sarah didn’t rely only on one job offer, knowing that it’s better not to put all your eggs in one basket.
3. Lisa wanted to take a gap year before college, but her parents reminded her not to put all her eggs in one basket and to consider backup plans.
4. John made sure to save money in different accounts, so he wouldn’t lose it all, understanding that not putting all your eggs in one basket is a good strategy.
5. Emma was hesitant to move to a new city for a job, but her mentor advised her not to put all her eggs in one basket and to make sure she had other opportunities lined up.
How to Use ‘Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket’ in Everyday Conversations
Now that you know the meaning and origin of the idiom “don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” let’s see how you can use it in a real-world conversation.
Conversation 1:
Anna and John are discussing their investment strategies.
Anna: I’m thinking about putting all my savings into stocks. They’ve been doing really well lately.
John: That sounds risky. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. You should diversify your investments to spread the risk.
Anna: You’re right. I’ll look into other options too, just in case.
John: It’s always smarter to have a backup plan, especially with something as unpredictable as the stock market.
Conversation 2:
David and Rachel are talking about their business ventures.
David: I’ve been focusing all my efforts on one project lately. I’m really hoping it’ll pay off.
Rachel: Be careful, David. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. It’s better to have multiple projects going in case one doesn’t work out.
David: That’s a good point. I’ll start exploring other ideas too, just to be safe.
Rachel: It’s always wise to keep your options open and not rely on just one source of income.
Similar Idioms
1. Variety is the Spice of Life
Meaning: This idiom suggests that having diversity or different options makes life more interesting and less risky.
Example: Instead of focusing on one career, she believes variety is the spice of life and keeps multiple projects going.
2. Don’t Bet the Farm
Meaning: This idiom means not to risk everything on one venture, similar to not putting all your eggs in one basket.
Example: He’s cautious with his investments, always reminding others not to bet the farm on any one stock.
Idioms Starting From Letter D
Each and every letter of the English alphabet has hundreds of idioms. As in this post, we are talking about the idiom beginning with the letter D. There are many other idioms that also start with the ‘D’, which can be useful to you. We have gathered all the D-starting idiomatic expressions on a single page to make it easy for you to find the best and most useful idioms starting with the letter D.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.