fruit

bear fruit 

1. Lit. [for a plant or tree] to yield fruit. Our apple tree didn't bear fruit this year.

2. Fig. to yield results. I hope your new plan bears fruit. We've had many good ideas, but none of them has borne fruit.

See also: bear

forbidden fruit

Fig. someone or something that one finds attractive or desirable partly because having the person or thing is immoral or illegal. (Biblical; from the apple in the Garden of Eden that was forbidden to Adam by God.) Jim flirts with his sister-in-law only because she's forbidden fruit. The boy watches that program only when his parents are out. It's forbidden fruit.

fruits of one's labor(s)

Fig. the results of one's work. We displayed the fruits of our labor at the county fair. What have you accomplished? Where is the fruit of your labors?

See also: labor

low-hanging fruit

Fig. the easiest person(s) to sell something to, to convince of something, or to fool. (From the much older easy pickings.) People who always want to be the first to buy something, they're low-hanging fruit for this product. Don't be satisfied with the low-hanging fruit. Go after the hard-sell types.

stolen fruit is sweetest and stolen pleasures are sweetest

Prov. People often enjoy illicit things just because they are illicit. To judge from the number of his extramarital affairs, John must believe that stolen pleasures are sweetest.

See also: stolen, sweet

tree is known by its fruit

Prov. People judge your character by what you do. (Biblical.) The politician may say she believes in more spending on child care, but the tree is known by its fruit; she hasn't voted for a single measure that would help.

See also: known, tree

---

bear fruit

if something someone does bears fruit, it produces successful results The work he began did not bear fruit until after his death.

See also: bear

forbidden fruit

something that you want very much but are not allowed to have, especially a sexual relationship

Usage notes: In the Bible, the forbidden fruit was an apple which God told Adam and Eve they could not eat.

He'd spent many years lusting after his brother's wife - the forbidden fruit.

the bitter fruits  (literary)

the unpleasant results of something Disease and malnutrition are the bitter fruits of an inefficient social healthcare policy.

See also: bitter

the fruit of your loins  (humorous)

your children The fruit of my loins you may be, but that doesn't mean I have to look after you all my life!

See bear fruit

See also: loin

---

bear fruit

to produce a result that is wanted or desired Some of the changes in the election laws are already bearing fruit.

Etymology: based on the idea that getting results is like getting fruit from a plant

See also: bear

bear fruit

to produce successful results Opening a new store in San Francisco has already borne fruit for the company.

See also: bear