Unit 1: English Expressions
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Session 5
Listen to find out how to use an everyday English expression.
Jechoota guyyuu of ibsuuf nu fayyadu akkaataa itti dhimma baanu hubachuuf caqasi.
Activity 1
To put all your eggs in one basket
Look at the Session Vocabulary – make sure you know what these words mean:
- to borrow
- to lend
- to invest
- to rely
Listen to Rob and Feifei talking about money. As you listen, think about these questions?
- Why does Rob want to borrow money?
- Does FeiFei think the idea will be successful?
- How many companies is Rob planning to invest in?
Listen to find out the answers. Then check them on the transcript below.

Ammayyuu
Akkam jirtaa! Qophii jechoota Afaan Ingilizii keessatti of ibsuuf sii fayyadan haaraa English Expressions akka bartu si gargaarrutti baga nagaan dhufte. Maqaankoo Ammayyuudha.
Har’a, jecha 'to put all your eggs in one basket’ ‘killeewwan kee hunda kaachoo tokko keessa kaa’uu’ jedhu ilaaluuf jirra. Kun maal jechuu sitti fakkaata? Wallaaltee? Tole, Itti fufii caqasi.
Feyifeyi fi Roob waa’ee karoora invastimantii yoo dubbatan caqasi.
Feifei
Rob, what are you doing?
Rob
(Counting out money) Oh hi, I'm just counting up all my money… actually, Feifei, could I borrow £100, please?
Feifei
£100? That's a lot of money. What do you need it for?
Rob
Well, with all my savings plus your £100, I'll just have enough.
Feifei
For what?!
Rob
To invest in this new company my friend is setting up. He's invented this machine where you can talk to people anywhere in the world and there are no wires or cables. It's going to be a huge success.
Feifei
Rob, that sounds to me like a mobile phone – that's already been invented.
Rob
Yeah but you can also type messages on it and send them to other people. Absolutely amazing! If this is successful my investment is going to make me millions of pounds!
Ammayyuu
Roob daran gammadeera. Sababiinsaa kampaanii hiriyaasaarratti ‘invest’ invastii gochuuf jira. Yoo kan milkaa’u ta’e, ‘investment’ invastimantii kanaan maallaqa hedduu akka argatu ni abdata. Feyifeyin isa waliin waliigalti jettee yaaddaa? Gorsa ishiin Roobif kennite caqasiitii hubadhu.
Feifei
Err, Rob calm down. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Rob
What? I'm not investing in eggs – this is real money. And what do you mean about one basket? I wasn't going to put the money in a basket!
Feifei
It's a saying! 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket' – it's an expression that means you should never rely on just one plan because it could go wrong. Rob, don't use all of your savings on this one idea – it might fail.
Rob
Fail? Do you really think so? Are you really saying putting all my eggs – or my money - in one basket is too risky?
Feifei
Exactly.
Ammayyuu
Feyifeyin, killeewwan mara kaachoo tokko keessa akka hinkeenye Roobitti himte.
‘Eggs’ jechuun killeewwan akkasumas 'basket' jechuun kaachoodha. Kanaafuu, ‘don’t put all your eggs in one basket' 'killeewwan kee mara kaachoo tokko keessa hin kaa’in’ wayita jennu karoora tokkorratti qofa hirkachuun si miidhuu danda’aadha.
Sababiinsaa akka yaadde ta’u dhiisuu mala jechuufi. Kaachoo Killeen hundi keessa jiru yoo lafarra buuste, killeewwan hunda cabsita.
Fakkeenyawwan kanneen caqasi.
Examples
My dad says I should buy shares in a lot of different companies, and not put all my eggs in the one basket. He said my money would be safer that way.
You shouldn’t just apply for one job. What happens if you don’t get it? Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
When he was younger, Michael didn’t put all his eggs in one basket. He invested in many business ideas. Now he’s a very rich and successful businessman.
Feifei
So, don't put all your eggs in one basket. Have you got the message, Rob?
Rob
Yes. So, I mustn't depend on one idea to make me rich. I'm not so sure about my friend's new idea anyway, but does that mean you won't lend me £100?
Feifei
No.
Rob
What about for my other cracking good idea - one that you really will need a basket for?
Feifei
What is it?
Rob
I have bought a chicken. It means I won't have to buy eggs at the supermarket anymore. It will save me lots of money. Oh look, she's just laid her first egg… here, Feifei, catch. Can you put that in the basket for me?
Feifei
Watch out, that nearly hit me.
Ammayyuu
Egaa amma Roob killeewwan mara kaachoo tokko keessa akka hinkeenye murteessee jira. Killeewwan kee mara kaachoo tokko keessa qofaa takkaa keessee beektaa? Kaachoo Killeen keessa jiru waan mudate jiraa?
Jechoota Afaan Ingilizii of ibsuuf si fayyadan English Expressions dabalataaf yeroo ittaanu walitti deebina. See you next time!
Answers
- To invest in his friend’s company.
- Feifei doesn’t think the idea will be successful.
- Only one company.
How do I use it?
‘Put all your eggs in one basket’ is made with the verb ‘put’. ‘Put’ is irregular in both the past simple and the past participle. Look at these examples:
I never put all my eggs in one basket. (present simple)
I put all my eggs in one basket when I spent my savings on that old house. (past simple)
He has put all his eggs in one basket, buying that company. (present perfect)
To put all your eggs in one basket
3 Questions
Choose the correct answer.
Deebii sirrii filadhu.
ድጋፍ
Activity
Choose the correct answer.
Deebii sirrii filadhu.
ፍንጭ
Killeewwan mara kaachoo tokko keessa kaa’uun yaada gaariidhaa? Kaachoon yoo nu harkaa kufewoo?Question 1 of 3
ድጋፍ
Activity
Choose the correct answer.
Deebii sirrii filadhu.
ፍንጭ
Killeewwan mara eessa kaa’uu hinqabnu?Question 2 of 3
ድጋፍ
Activity
Choose the correct answer.
Deebii sirrii filadhu.
ፍንጭ
Yaadadhu, gaaleen kun waa’ee balaa uumamuuf itti-gaafatamummaa fudhachuu dhisuuti.Question 3 of 3
Excellent!Great job!መጥፎ እድል ነጥብ አስመዝግበዋል :
Over to you!
Have you ever ‘put all your eggs in one basket’? What was the situation? What happened? Come and tell us on our Facebook group.
Join us for our next episode of English Expressions, when we will learn more useful language and practise your listening skills.
Barnoota Essential English ittaanu kan dandeettii caqasuukee ittiin shaakaltuufi qooqa barbaachisoo barannutti walitti deebina.
Session Vocabulary
eggs
killeewwanbasket
kaachooto borrow
liqeeffachuuto lend
liqeessuua company
kaampaaniito invest
invastiito rely
hirkachuua chicken
lukkuu