Idiom B1 Informal

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Do not risk everything on a single venture or plan; spread your resources or chances to reduce risk

Meaning

Don't put all your eggs in one basket — Do not risk everything on a single venture or plan. The idiom advises you to spread your resources or chances so that one failure does not cost you everything at once.

Origin & History

The proverb appears in Cervantes' great novel "Don Quixote", published in two parts in 1605 and 1615, and it was popularised in English over the 17th and 18th centuries. The image is wonderfully practical: if you carry every egg you own in a single basket and then drop it, you lose the whole lot in one moment.

From that simple farmyard picture grew a wider lesson about managing risk. Whether the subject is money, careers, or plans, the advice is the same: divide your chances between several options so that a single setback cannot ruin you. The phrase is now especially common in finance and everyday decision-making.

Example Sentences

SentenceContext
Spread your savings across a few accounts; don't put all your eggs in one basket.Managing money
Apply to several jobs at once — don't put all your eggs in one basket.Job hunting
The investor warned us not to put all our eggs in one basket.Finance advice
She entered three competitions because she didn't want to put all her eggs in one basket.Hedging chances
Relying on a single supplier is putting all your eggs in one basket.Business risk
Pick a few universities so you don't put all your eggs in one basket.Choosing a course

How to Use It

This idiom is informal to neutral and works well in advice, conversation, and business writing. Use it to warn someone against relying on a single plan, investment, or opportunity. It is often phrased as a negative instruction beginning with "don't", but you can also describe a risky choice as "putting all your eggs in one basket".

Common Mistakes

Mistakes to Avoid

Don't put all your eggs in one box.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. — The container is always a 'basket'.

Don't put all your eggs in two baskets.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. — The number is always 'one'.

Don't put your egg in one basket.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. — Use the plural 'eggs' and keep 'all'.

Similar Idioms

Hedge your bets Spread your risk Have a plan B Cover all bases All Idioms →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" mean?
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket" means do not risk everything on a single venture or plan. It advises you to spread your resources or chances so that one failure does not ruin everything.
Where does the idiom "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" come from?
The proverb appears in Cervantes' novel Don Quixote, published in 1605 and 1615, and was popularised in English in the 17th and 18th centuries. The image is practical: if you carry all your eggs in one basket and drop it, you lose them all at once.
Can you give an example of "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" in a sentence?
Here is an example: "Apply to several universities — don't put all your eggs in one basket." — used to advise spreading your chances rather than relying on a single option.
Is "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" formal or informal?
It is informal to neutral. It is common in everyday advice and casual writing, and also appears in business and finance, but it is best avoided in very formal academic writing.
What CEFR level is "Don't put all your eggs in one basket"?
This idiom is typically taught at B1 level. It is an intermediate proverb that appears often in spoken English and informal writing when giving advice about risk.
What are common mistakes with "Don't put all your eggs in one basket"?
A common mistake is changing the noun, such as saying 'all your eggs in one box'. Another is using the wrong number, such as 'eggs in two baskets'. The fixed form is 'all your eggs in one basket'.
What idioms are similar to "Don't put all your eggs in one basket"?
Similar idioms include: Hedge your bets, Spread your risk, Have a plan B, Cover all bases. These all share the idea of not relying on a single option.
How do I practise idioms like "Don't put all your eggs in one basket"?
LexFizz's Flash Cards and Flip Tiles exercises are great for practising English idioms. Try writing your own example sentences using the idiom in context, and listen for it in films, podcasts, and conversations.
Can "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" be used in writing?
Yes, in informal writing, advice columns, and business articles. Avoid it in very formal academic writing unless you are quoting or discussing the idiom itself. In everyday writing it is a clear and natural choice.
Does "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" have the same meaning in British and American English?
Yes, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" is understood in both British and American English with the same meaning: do not risk everything on a single plan. The proverb is widely recognised across all major varieties of English.