Feifei:大家好,欢迎收听《地道英语》节目。我是冯菲菲,今天和我一起主持节目的是 Rob. Rob, what are you doing?
Rob:(counting out money) Oh hi, I'm just counting up all my money… actually, 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. Amazing! If this is successful my investment is going to make me millions of pounds!
Feifei: Rob 觉得投资他朋友的公司肯定能有很多钱赚。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 的意思是不要把所有的钱都放在一个篮子里,也就是我们常说的不要孤注一掷。我觉得 Rob 不应该把钱全都投在一个生意里。 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 all my money - in one basket is too risky?
Feifei: Exactly. 把所有的钱都放进一个投资项目里并希望有所回报的风险是很大的。Here are some more examples of the idiom in action:
I know you're confident about getting that job but I don't think you should put all your eggs in one basket. Why don't you apply for a few more, just in case?
My dad says I should buy shares in a lot of different companies, and not put all my eggs in one basket.
Feifei: 所以说千万不要孤注一掷 don't put all your eggs in one basket! Have you got the message Rob?
Rob: Yes, I think so. I mustn't depend on one idea to make me rich. I'm not so sure about my friend's new idea. 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: Rob 还有一个能赚钱的办法。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, you nearly hit me.
Rob: Ha, then you would have had egg on your face!
Feifei: Excuse me?
Rob: That's another saying, I'll explain another time. Come on, let's go and boil this egg.
Feifei: How egg-citing! 好了,感谢收听,下次《地道英语》节目再会啦。Bye.
Rob: Look! She's laying another one.