The expression is originally from eastern Canada (it has been traced back to Devil’s Island in Nova Scotia) and does not refer to chickens but to sturgeon and it is not about a basket at all but is a reference to a net.
Therefore joe is actually correct… it has no connection to a person who has laying hens on ‘their’ farm (I had to correct the possessive from his to their… I may club seals but I do try to be politically correct… )
We took her with us to visit my mother-in-law down in Georgia about 7 years ago (we live in Indiana). My husband took his mother to the grocery store while my mother and I stayed behind. When they got back, my mother and I helped to unload the groceries. My husband handed my mother the bag with the eggs in it and she dropped it — breaking every single one of them! That carton of eggs made it on a truck TO the grocery store from wherever it is they came from … then a trip across town in our trunk … through the garage … into the house … then they all got broken just FEET from the refrigerator!!!!! Another trip had to be made back to the grocery store just for another carton of eggs!!!!! To this very day, we’ve never let her live that one down!!!!!
Not to play the pedant here, but I doubt that Nova Scotia is the origin of the saying. Consider this quote:
‘Tis the part of wise man to keep himself today for tomorrow, and not venture all his eggs in one basket. (Cervantes, Don Quixote, 1605-)
The expression is almost certainly older than that, as it was, even at that time, a well-established proverb and also well-known in a slightly different form of “don’t hazard all in one bottom” i.e. “don’t risk everything in a single ship”, which was good advice in the days of sail as shipwreck and pirates were much more common.
The “eggs” version almost without question refers to hen’s eggs, as that would be an easily visualized and broadly understood sense for the majority of the population. It is very unlikely that an obscure fishing term from Eastern Canada would have made it’s way into Italian culture and trade by the mid 1600s.
Pacejv almost 15 years ago
And at the store the bagger is sure to put them on the bottom.
ejcapulet almost 15 years ago
If he’s like my Great Gran, he has all the chickens named and wouldn’t eat one if you paid him.
detour_jones almost 15 years ago
The expression is originally from eastern Canada (it has been traced back to Devil’s Island in Nova Scotia) and does not refer to chickens but to sturgeon and it is not about a basket at all but is a reference to a net.
Therefore joe is actually correct… it has no connection to a person who has laying hens on ‘their’ farm (I had to correct the possessive from his to their… I may club seals but I do try to be politically correct… )
lewisbower almost 15 years ago
Diversify Stocks–GM for size
Bonds– Government securities for growth
Cash—AIG for bonuses
ImaPlugger2 almost 15 years ago
Well, heck yeah, today’s Pluggers just screamed for interpretation. Thank you!
Bany39 almost 15 years ago
What would one purpose to do if he did not put all his eggs in one basket, walk to the house with one egg at a time?
Gretchen's Mom almost 15 years ago
Pacejv: That reminds me of a story about my mom!
We took her with us to visit my mother-in-law down in Georgia about 7 years ago (we live in Indiana). My husband took his mother to the grocery store while my mother and I stayed behind. When they got back, my mother and I helped to unload the groceries. My husband handed my mother the bag with the eggs in it and she dropped it — breaking every single one of them! That carton of eggs made it on a truck TO the grocery store from wherever it is they came from … then a trip across town in our trunk … through the garage … into the house … then they all got broken just FEET from the refrigerator!!!!! Another trip had to be made back to the grocery store just for another carton of eggs!!!!! To this very day, we’ve never let her live that one down!!!!!
wanderwolf almost 15 years ago
El Dorado: Depends on the basket, I’m told. Picnic baskets are “hampers”.
ImaPlugger2 almost 15 years ago
Y’all talk funny!
Pacejv almost 15 years ago
@ GretchensMom…good story, I believe it!
detour_jones almost 15 years ago
el dorado we call hampers the floor…
tim almost 15 years ago
Not to play the pedant here, but I doubt that Nova Scotia is the origin of the saying. Consider this quote: ‘Tis the part of wise man to keep himself today for tomorrow, and not venture all his eggs in one basket. (Cervantes, Don Quixote, 1605-) The expression is almost certainly older than that, as it was, even at that time, a well-established proverb and also well-known in a slightly different form of “don’t hazard all in one bottom” i.e. “don’t risk everything in a single ship”, which was good advice in the days of sail as shipwreck and pirates were much more common. The “eggs” version almost without question refers to hen’s eggs, as that would be an easily visualized and broadly understood sense for the majority of the population. It is very unlikely that an obscure fishing term from Eastern Canada would have made it’s way into Italian culture and trade by the mid 1600s.