1168 Put all your eggs in one basket

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[1168] Put all your eggs in one basket

Explanation

To risk everything on a single venture, plan, investment, or opportunity.
It implies a lack of diversification or backup plans, such that failure of that one thing results in total loss or failure.

Origin

The idiom uses the practical, literal analogy of carrying eggs.
If you place all your fragile eggs into a single basket, and you accidentally drop that basket, all the eggs will likely break.
However, if you distribute the eggs among several baskets, dropping one basket means you only lose some of your eggs, not all of them.
The proverb advises caution and diversification of risk. It appears in various forms in literature, including Cervantes' 'Don Quixote' (early 17th century), suggesting the core idea is quite old.

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

Bet the farm / Betting the ranch
Go for broke (Aiming for maximum gain by risking everything)
Shoot the works / Shoot the moon (Risk everything on a single attempt)
All in (From poker)

Vulgar/Emphatic:

Risk your whole ass / Put your ass on the line (Risk significant personal consequences)

Milder/Formal:

Over-concentrate resources / Over-concentrate risk
Fail to diversify
Stake everything on a single outcome
Lack contingency planning

Situational Appropriateness

Appropriate in most contexts – informal, semi-formal, and formal.
Very common when discussing finance, investment strategy, career choices, or any situation involving significant risk concentrated on a single outcome. It's standard advice.

Misunderstanding Warnings

The metaphorical meaning related to concentrating risk is strong and usually very clear. Unlikely to be misunderstood as literal eggs.

Examples

Financial advisors usually recommend diversifying investments rather than putting all your eggs in one basket.
She applied only to her dream university; she's really putting all her eggs in one basket.
He quit his stable job to focus solely on his startup, essentially putting all his eggs in one basket.

Dialogue

Father: I hear you invested your entire life savings into this new cryptocurrency?

Son: Yeah, Dad! It's going to the moon!

Father: Son, I'm worried you're putting all your eggs in one basket. That sounds incredibly risky. Have you thought about diversifying?

Son: No need, Dad. This one's a sure thing!

Father: (Sighs) I hope you're right, but please be careful.

Response Patterns

Agreement with caution: You're right, that's too risky. / Good advice, diversification is key.
Justification of risk: I know it's a risk, but I have strong reasons to believe this will succeed. / Sometimes you have to go all in.
Denial: I'm not really putting all my eggs in one basket; I have other options/savings.
Acknowledgment: Yes, I realize I'm putting all my eggs in one basket.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After advising someone *not* to put all their eggs in one basket:

Have you considered spreading the risk?
What's your contingency plan if this doesn't work out?
Suggesting alternative options or diversification strategies.

After someone admits to putting all their eggs in one basket:

Expressing concern: Are you sure that's wise? / That makes me nervous for you.
Asking about their confidence level or rationale.

Conversation Starter

No. Typically used as advice, a warning, or a comment on a specific strategy or decision involving risk concentration.

Intonation

Often stresses all, eggs, one, basket. Put ALL your EGGS in ONE BASKET.
Typically said with a cautionary tone, often as advice (usually in the negative: Don't put all your eggs in one basket) or as a critical observation.

Generation Differences

Widely known and understood proverb across all generations.

Regional Variations

Universally understood and used in the English-speaking world.

Pull yourself together

🎲 Put your foot in your mouth