Last week, we learned that the English language is replete with idioms, groups of words that mean something altogether different than the definition of their individual words. Toward that end, we learned about three idioms related to color.
Today, let’s take a look at three idioms related to fruit: Cherry, banana, and fig. (All of these examples are from the fine etymologists at www.merriam-webster.com .)
Cherry-pick:
To cherry-pick means that you select the most attractive or more desirable of something. For instance, if your parents tell you to “Don’t cherry-pick what rules you will follow at school” it means that they want you to follow all the rules and not just the rules with which you agree.
“Cherry-pick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cherry-pick. Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.
Top banana:
If you’re the top banana, it means that you are the leading comedian in a show or you are an important person. An example would be the following: “Tara is the top banana in the accounting department. (As an aside, an accountant or an employee in charge of finances is sometimes called a bean counter, but we’ll save the vegetable idioms for another time.)
“Top banana.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top%20banana. Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.
Not care/give a fig:
If you don’t care/give a fig, it means you don’t care anything at all. While it’s somewhat an old-fashioned saying, you’ll still hear it from time to time.
“Not care/give a fig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20care%2Fgive%20a%20fig. Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.
What other fruit idioms can you think of?