Low-Hanging Fruit

Meaning of Idiom ‘Low-Hanging Fruit’

Low-hanging fruit is the easiest and quickest thing to achieve or obtain; easy to take advantage of; the easiest person(s) to sell something to, to convince of something, or to fool or take advantage of. 1Spears, Richard A. McGraw-Hill’s American Idioms Dictionary. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.,2Bengelsdorf, Peter. Idioms in the News – 1,000 Phrases, Real Examples. N.p.: Amz Digital Services, 2012.

Usage Notes For The Idiom ‘Low Hanging Fruit’

Low-hanging fruit sometimes refers to being less impressive or desirable than things that are more difficult or take more skill or effort.

As well, the idiom often implies that things will be more difficult later.

Sentence Examples

“The legislature is in a shambles right now but there is still some low-hanging fruit, so we are sure we can get a few things done.”

“The teen market is sort of low-hanging fruit for us, especially given the rise of influencer marketing.”

“One of the best ways to improve your financial situation is to look for the low-hanging fruit in your budget – things you can easily do without.”

“Comedian Ricky Gervais was found dead at age 60 in his home this morning after a massive fire in Los Angeles burned away all low-hanging fruit, which was his only source of sustenance, according to those familiar with the situation.” — Hard Drive.net May 23, 2022 (joke)

“As the new session opens on Wednesday, much of the low-hanging policy fruit promised to voters already has been harvested through reforms to abortion laws, gun control and voting access.”  — Politico January 8, 2020

“With enrollments exploding, revenues shrinking and the low-hanging fruit plucked long ago, virtually every state has had to make painful cuts to its Medicaid program during the economic downturn. — The New York Times, December 4, 2010

Origin

Used figuratively since at least the first decade of the 1900s.

The term low-hanging fruit literally refers to the fruit that grows on the lower branches of a fruit tree, nearest the ground, within easy reach. This fruit can easily be picked first, before the most difficult fruit on the upper branches. Orchard farmers often cull the low-hanging fruit, a relatively easy job, to increase yields on the higher parts of the tree.