Episode 290: All Your Eggs in One Basket

This week Shauna and Dan put all their eggs into one basket and ask if that is a good plan or not. Bonus: Kobe Bryant, GI Joe, and Coin-Operated Medieval-Western Songs

Seriously, Tele Novella is such a great band.

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Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast
Episode 290: All Your Eggs in One Basket
Record Date: August 17, 2025
Air Date: August 27, 2025

Intro

Shauna:
Welcome to Bunny Trails, a whimsical adventure of idioms and other turns of phrase. 

I’m Shauna Harrison

Dan:
And I’m Dan Pugh

Each week we take an idiom or other turn of phrase and try to tell the story from its entry into the English language, to how it’s used today.

Opening Hook
Have you ever been told to always make sure you have a back up plan? Maybe you wanted to play professional sports, become a rock star, or make a living as an artist. And well meaning people always tell you to have a Plan B in case your Plan A fails. And it makes you wonder, if you really want something, does it make sense to just put all your eggs in one basket and see how it turns out. 

Meaning
According to the Oxford English Dictionary to have all your eggs in one basket means:

Quote
to risk all one's property on a single venture
End Quote
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/egg_n?tab=meaning_and_use#5773645 

Here is the idea. If all your eggs are in one basket, then when that basket falls you are likely to have all your food crack and break. But if you spread out the eggs among many baskets, you spread out the risk of any one basket failing and you going hungry. And it works for your time, your finances, your desires, and so many other things. Do you want to risk it by putting all your eggs in one basket, or do you want the safer option but also likely not get the full object of your desire in the process?

1694
We’ll start with a 1694 translation of The History of the Renowned Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra and translated by: 
Quote
Several Hands
End Quote

This is the 1st edition published by Pete Motteux, and our phrase is in Volume 1. As we’ve noted on the show before, Cervantes’ work was written in Spanish and many English translations of Don Quixote de la Mancha are not really what we might call “faithful”. In fact, John Ormsby wrote in 1885 of Motteux’s work:

Quote
To attempt to improve the humour of "Don Quixote" by an infusion of cockney flippancy and facetiousness, as Motteux's operators did, is not merely an impertinence like larding a sirloin of prize beef, but an absolute falsification of the spirit of the book, and it is a proof of the uncritical way in which "Don Quixote" is generally read that this worse than worthless translation - worthless as failing to represent, worse than worthless as misrepresenting - should have been favoured as it has been. 
End quote
https://www.herbison.com/herbison/broken_eggs_quixote.html 

Still, regardless of how unfaithful it is, our phrase is found in this 1694 translation:

Quote
An’t please your worship, quoth Sancho, to withdraw is not to run away, and to stay is no wise action when there’s more reason to fear than to hope; gods bores, ‘tis the part of a wise man to keep himself to day for to morrow, and not venture all his eggs in one basket.
End Quote
https://archive.org/details/MedievalRomances/TheHistoryOfTheRenowndDonQuixote1700/page/n139/mode/2up?q=%22eggs+in+one+basket%22 

In the 1605 original, instead of “not venture all his eggs in one basket”, what Cervantes writes is “no aventurarse todo en un día”, which is more like “not venturing all in one day”. So the use of the idiom here is a product of the English translation. And in it, Sancho is imploring Don Quixote to withdraw in the face of defeat and not risk everything in this one stand. Which is much how we use the phrase today. This usage also reminds me of another phrase. To quote Major Bludd from the 1980s animated GI JOE TV Show, he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day. 

1763
This next one is from the 1763 work, The Citizen. A Farce. It is a play in two acts by Arthur Murphy, Esq. Our phrase is used in the first Act, with George Philpot speaking with Old Philpot, who seems to be an older family member but I wasn’t sure if it was an older brother, uncle, father, grandfather, or what. In it, George is making good money from some investments, but because most of his funds are tied up in just a few areas, he is financially injured when one of those investments goes wrong. 

Quote
G.Phil: I have indeed a remittance from Messina. That voyage yields me thirty per cent. profit - But this blow coming upon me - 
Old Phil: Why this is unlucky - How much money?
G. Phil: Three and twenty hundred.
Old Phil: George, too many eggs in one basket
End Quote
https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_the-citizen-a-farce-as_murphy-arthur_1763_0/mode/2up?q=%22eggs+in+one+basket%22 

Even in 1763, this is the way we use the phrase today as well. George has invested too much in one pathway and will have a difficult time dealing with the ramifications as something goes wrong with the investment. It’s much like if you put all your money into one stock, like a tech company, and that company went bankrupt. You might lose all your retirement savings. But if you spread the risk out by putting money in different companies, you are better able to handle if one of those companies has problems. 

1835
The Arkansas Advocate, May 29, 1835 out of Little Rock, Arkansas Territory in what is now part of the United States. 

Quote
Why ain’t I got as much as I want? - with an air of indifference - an more’n I can manage? My transactions have been putty heavy this last month - I tell ye! - never want too many eggs in one basket.
End Quote
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn87062070/1835-05-29/ed-1/?sp=1&q=eggs+in+one+basket&r=0.396,1.236,0.508,0.193,0 

This is a good usage of the phrase here as well. Not wanting too much of spending being done in one area. 

1848
This one is the results of the Doncaster Races as told in The Observer out of London, England dated September 17, 1848. 

Quote
…in the morning, however, it was publicly stated that one great loser, to the tune of £9,000, had evaporated by the mail train the night before on his way to London, and, in fact, we have ascertained that he was seen next morning trotting over London Bridge, carpet bag in hand, in the direction of the railway terminus - whither bound it is scarcely necessary to inquire. This gentleman… had “put all his eggs in one basket”.
End Quote
https://newspaperarchive.com/london-observer-sep-17-1848-p-2/

That’s a lot of money to put on one horse. In fact, according to two different inflation calculators I found online, £9,000 in 1848 would be the equivalent of over £1,369,000 today.
https://www.in2013dollars.com/uk/inflation/1848?amount=9000 
https://www.officialdata.org/uk/inflation/1848?amount=9000 

1927
The Washington Times out of Washington, DC, USA dated January 29, 1927. This is from the final installment of special investigator Donald McDougal’s series on the practice of dealing with those who have mental health issues. The terminology used in that day was “lunacy cases”. In it, the article talks pros and cons of guardianship for the estates of those who were committed to case - meaning put in an asylum. Here is part of the article:

Quote
The guardianship features of commitments offers a continual source of temptation. Dr. Hickling tells us that, contrary to the theory of the law, selecting guardians from among a patient’s relatives doesn’t always insure 100 per cent honesty of administration. Having a different guardian for each of the 2,150 patients (or as many of them as possess property) presents certain difficulties.
The fool says, according to Mark Twain, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket; but rather put them in many baskets. Then, if one gets upset, you will have the others left.” The wise man, according to the same authority, advises “put all your eggs in one basket AND WATCH THAT BASKET."
End Quote
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84026749/1927-01-29/ed-1/?sp=9&q=eggs+in+one+basket&r=0.21,0.5,0.592,0.226,0 

This is an interesting take on the idiom. Its usage is clear, though in this case it seems to be advocating the opposite of the prevailing wisdom. Though the author of the article ascribed the quote to Mark Twain, who did use it in his works of Pudd’nhead Wilson. But the quote is most likely originated by Andrew Carnegie in an 1885 speech given to college students in Pittsburgh. Mark Twain even credits Carnegie with this quote in his own notebooks. You may have heard of Andrew Carnegie through the concert venue Carnegie Hall, a building he funded. We’ll look more into the speech and what Carnegie meant in our behind the scenes video which airs every Friday on our Patreon. That’s patreon.com/bunnytrailspod 

1936
I’m Putting All My Eggs in One Basket is a 1936 song written by Irving Berlin for the film Follow the Fleet of the same year. It featured Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Here are some of the lyrics:

Quote
I've been a roaming Romeo
My Juliets have been many
But now my roaming days have gone
Too many irons in the fire
Is worse than not having any
I've had my share and from now on:

I'm putting all my eggs in one basket
I'm betting ev'rything I've got on you

I'm giving all my love to one baby
Heaven help me if my baby don't come through
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpl2ZOs72I4 

We’ll link to a scene from the movie, which not only features them singing but because it is Fred and Ginger, they dance, too. Because of course they do.

1955
The Coastland Times out of North Carolina, USA, dated November 18, 1955. This is from a piece titled Then and Now by Victor Meekins. 

Quote
One of our great failings is the tendency of the people to put all their eggs in one basket. When a few made money with “long-nets,” everyone flocked into long-netting, and sometimes went heavily in debt. When shrimping picked up, everyone who could do so, bought a shrimp boat, and spent heavily to get into shrimping. And so it went; and when everybody was in one thing and that thing failed, truly all were in the same boat and broke to boot. 
End Quote
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn99061530/1955-11-18/ed-1/?sp=3&q=eggs+in+one+basket&r=0.003,0.922,0.736,0.28,0 

With that, it’s time to move to our more modern uses but first we need to say thank you to our sponsors. 

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Modern Uses

2000 Book
Eggs in One Basket is a book by Kathy Mackel. Released in 2000, this juvenile fiction story is the sequel to Mackel’s, Can of Worms. Here’s the synopsis from the publisher:

Quote
Can a jock, a geek, and a weird band girl team up to save the earth from total destruction?

Ever since he hooked up with geeky Mike Pillsbury and discovered that there really is life in outer space, weird things keep happening to Scott Schreiber. For one thing, he discovers an inexplicable talent for flying. For another, he's tormented by an unbearable screeching noise--a noise that only he and Stacia Caraviello, a Weird Band Girl, can hear. Things get really bizarre when a sinister stranger shows up at school and tries to snatch Scott's science project, an odd nest he found in the woods near his home. Scott, Stacia, and Mike team up to protect it, only to learn that they've landed themselves in the middle of an intergalactic battle--a battle that could destroy the earth itself. Does Scott have what it takes to be a true hero--or is he just a middle-school jock, with all his eggs in one basket?
End Quote
https://books.google.com/books/about/Eggs_in_one_Basket.html?id=0UPQwAEACAAJ 

2012 Book
Here’s another book, this one takes a slightly different angle with the phrase. All in One Basket: Nest Eggs by Deborah Devonshire is a 2012 book that combines the best of reflections from two of her earlier books, thus the “all in one basket” moniker. Here’s the synopsis from Hachette Australia:

Quote
Entertaining, instructive, thought-provoking and hilarious, the unmistakable voice of Deborah Devonshire rings out of this volume which combines her two collections of 'occasional' writings - Home to Roost and Counting my Chickens.

The pieces are broad and eclectic in their subjects, ranging from treasures unearthed while the kitchen was being redecorated, musings about the reason for the reworded town sign, tourism at Chatsworth, a ringside view of both John F. Kennedy's inauguration and funeral, and the value of deportment. No matter what she's writing about she is always affectionate, shrewd and uproariously funny.
End Quote
https://www.hachette.com.au/deborah-devonshire/all-in-one-basket-nest-eggs-by 

It’s interesting how they combine Home to Roost and Counting my Chickens into this one aptly named book.

2016 Movie
Putting All the Eggs in One Basket is a 2016 Italian movie. This thriller was produced by Proper Ginko. Here’s the synopsis from Kinorium:

Quote
In an anonymous city a hit man receives the order to kill a person. The day arrives and he finds out the person is his uncle. He has 24 hours to find out what has his uncle done to deserve to die before the organization which he belongs will kill him.
End Quote
https://en.kinorium.com/1634583/

It notes the movie is thrilling with action, chases, and explosions. It seems the idea here is the guy has to put all his effort into one basket to find out why his uncle deserves to die. And then he’ll have a decision to make.

2023 Song
Eggs in One Basket is a song by Cofi Boham off the 2023 album Names of Talkatives. It’s a pretty standard Christian pop song. Here are some of the lyrics:

Quote
I was told 
When you want to cross a road 
Look left right and left again 
If you don’t do this you could die in pain
Motor go fit to jam you insane 

But one day, I saw You and You called my name 
And i took no precautions to look elsewhere
I can never be a casualty in your hands

I have put all my eggs into one basket! 
That one basket is You Jesus!
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP-f0gYgP6k

2023 Article
While researching this phrase, I came across a ton of articles about Kobe Bryant, the legendary basketball player who tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2020. I wanted to use something because his name is all over this phrase. I settled on this quote from Jayson Tatum, who at the time was playing for the Boston Celtics. It is reported in the Celtics Wire from a USA Today article by Justin Quinn dated December 6, 2023. Tatum was recalling how his idol was speaking at a basketball camp that he attended, and Bryant was asked about his back up plan for if the NBA didn’t work out. Here are Tatum’s words:

Quote
"He kind of looked at them funny and was like, 'Man, I never had a plan b. People always tole me to disperse my eggs into different baskets ... why would I not give all my time, energy, and effort to the thing I'm trying to accomplish?' That resonated so much -- that was my favorite player."
End Quote
https://celticswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/celtics/2023/12/06/nba-boston-celtics-jt-pf-int/77125088007/

And I love this take on something you are passionate about. Because sometimes you do have to put all your eggs in one basket and go for that big thing. 

2023 Song
Eggs in one Basket is a song by Tele Novella off the 2023 album Poet’s Tooth. The song is kind of creepy and the video features clowns. The band’s website describes them as “Coin-operated medieval-western songs through a psychedelic 50s-ish Lens”. 
https://www.telenovella.world/
So… there is that. Here are the opening lines:

Quote
They told you not to put 
all your eggs in one basket 
To have a plan b 
for safer landing
But the universe 
Wants you to ask it 
For that which you need 
and it will answer
A little hope makes its nest
in the rafters
And sings a sweet song
when you are not strong
You must have integrity
as you go after
that which your heart seeks 
until it's mastered
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTB-uwAd0v8

I actually kind of liked the song. It’s catchy and is stuck in my head now. I listened to several more of their songs on youtube and I think I love them. 

And these lyrics kind of echo what Kobe Bryant was saying as well, that if your heart has a strong enough desire then put all your eggs in one basket and go for it. 

Wrap Up
Which I think is the beauty of this phrase. Absolutes like always or never are rarely a good thing. One of my favorite quotes is “I never use absolutes”. The idea of putting all your eggs in one basket isn’t a never situation or an always situation. It’s an evaluate-the-situation and then decide what makes the most sense. I usually have a back up plan and I rarely put all my eggs in one basket. But there have been times when the reward is great enough that I took that leap of faith and put all my eggs right in that basket. Because the potential gain was worth it to me. And I want that for you too, dear listener. Because sometimes you should put all your eggs in one basket. 

Dan:
That’s about all we have for today. If you have any thoughts on the show, or pop culture references we should have included, 
reach out to us on Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod or comment on our website bunnytrailspod.com

Shauna:
It’s poll time!

Recently we asked our patrons, what is your favorite dessert?

Heather said:
Quote
Yes deserts, all the deserts, but especially ice cream. 
End Quote

Jan noted:
Quote
Cherry cheesecake, but key lime pie is a close second.
End Quote

Cheryl agreed that Cheesecake is her favorite, too. 

JGP shared:
Quote
There are far too many delicious choices to pick just one thing as my favorite dessert. Brownies? Yes, please. Cookies? Thank you. Doughnuts? Don't mind if I do. Cake? Oh you shouldn't have. Ice cream? Wonderful!
End Quote

Dan:
Mary said:
Quote
There are too many to choose from. I really love So Delicious cashew milk chocolate with zero sugar chocolate crunch mix. But Shauna’s gluten free chocolate cake is the best!
End Quote

And I agree, it’s been a couple of years but I have also had Shauna’s gluten free chocolate cake and it is on par with a really good non-gluten free cake.

Allan added:
Quote
Tiramisu, which is a shame since I'm now vegan. Vegan versions exist, but they're not readily available, and I don't have the time to make my own.
End Quote

Tiramisu is soooo yummy. But I totally get how dietary changes can prevent some of the desserts we love! I went sugar-light in September 2024 and moved to no-sugar in late December 2024, so that has seriously cut into my dessert game. I've been a huge fan of pumpkin pie with honey drizzled on it. I have also enjoyed pretty much anything with peanut butter. But honestly, I don’t really miss sugar that much so it isn’t too big a deal for me.  

Shauna:
Emily said:
Quote
Cookies. I prefer homemade, soft and chewy chocolate chip. My local bakery makes a delicious chocolate chip peanut butter cookie that I also love. 
End Quote

For me it’s a tie between the delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies, pineapple popsicles, and rice crispy treats made from fruity pebbles. But honestly, I just like sweets. Not every day… but most days. 

As a reminder, our silly polls mean absolutely nothing and are not scientifically valid. And patrons of all levels, including our free tiers, can take part. Head over to patreon.com/bunnytrailspod to take this week’s poll!

Outro 

Shauna:
Thanks for joining us. We’ll talk to you again next week. Until then remember, 

Together:
Words belong to their users.