They are not putting all their marbles in one basket

This one is from the ESPN show “Pardon the Interruption” (PTI).  There was a discussion about the Lakers and LeBron James’ free agency. Michael Wilbon reported that Magic Johnson [the Lakers’ director of basketball operations] stated that they are not putting all their marbles in one basket. Even Tony Kornheiser then pointed out to Michael that it should have been eggs, not marbles.  This is a nice conflation of “for all the marbles” (all the winnings, spoils, or rewards) and “put all your eggs in one basket” (to invest all of one’s energy in a single venture).  Marbles resemble eggs and vice versa so this is probably the reason for the mix up.  A big thanks to Gerry Abbott for hearing this one and sending it in.

If you liked this malaphor, check out THE book on malaphors, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205.   Buying it is like putting all your malaphors in one basket.

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3 Comments on “They are not putting all their marbles in one basket”

  1. curioussteph says:

    That’s fabulous. I try not to put all my marbles in one basket, but I do collect the ones I’m losing, with hopes of a reinstall.

  2. Beatrice Zablocki says:

    Plus, if you put all your marbles in one basket, you might lose them.

    Sent from my iPad

    >


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