diminishing returns

1. In economics, a yield rate (i.e., of profits, production, benefits, etc.) that fails to grow in proportion to the amount of investment, skill, time, or effort that is added. The restaurant, to combat high volumes of customers, hired a large surplus of wait staff and cooks. This led to diminishing returns, however, as the overcrowded staff was far less efficient and eventually cost the restaurant more in wages than it was earning. Marine biologists warn that fish populations in the oceans are long past the point of diminishing returns, with the amount of fish caught continually decreasing even as more fleets set out into the waters each season. Haven't you seen the diminishing returns in sales? We can't keep pumping money into a venture that's just not paying off.

2. By extension, any output or result (e.g., of a product, project, organization, etc.) that fails to increase in proportional to additional time, money, skill, or effort spent. Unfortunately, the show's charm has not lasted, and the infusion of zanier plots has created diminishing returns in terms of quality. Schools have continued to pile more and more homework on students to catch up to standardized test requirements, going well past the point of diminishing returns. Students are burning out because of the huge workload, and their academic performance is stalling anyway. A: "Honey, it's 1:00 AM—you're falling asleep at your desk. Just go to bed because you're in the realm of diminishing returns at this point." B: "But the report still isn't done."

the law of diminishing returns

1. In economics, the law that a yield rate (i.e., of profits, production, benefits, etc.) will eventually fail to grow in proportion to the amount of investment, skill, time, or effort that is added. The restaurant, to combat high volumes of customers, hired a large surplus of wait staff and cooks. The law of diminishing returns kicked in, however, as the overcrowded staff was far less efficient and eventually cost the restaurant more in wages than it was earning.

2. By extension, the idea that any output or results (e.g., of a product, project, organization, etc.) will eventually begin failing to increase in proportion to additional time, money, skill, or effort being spent. The show's charm has not lasted, even as more zany plots and characters keep being added. That's just the law of diminishing returns, unfortunately. Schools feel like they have to pile on homework so students meet increasingly high targets for standardized tests, but then you rub up against the law of diminishing returns, because students can only handle so much work before they begin to burn out and perform poorly anyway.

the point of diminishing returns

1. In economics, the point at which a yield rate (i.e., of profits, production, benefits, etc.) no longer grows in proportion to the amount of production, investment, time, etc., that is added. To combat high volumes of customers, the restaurant hired a large surplus of wait staff and cooks. But it seems to have reached the point of diminishing returns, as the overcrowded staff is far less efficient and costs the restaurant more in wages than it is earning. Marine biologists warn that fish populations in the oceans are long past the point of diminishing returns, with the amount of fish caught continually decreasing even as more fleets set out into the waters each season.

2. By extension, the point at which the quality or quantity of output (e.g., of a product, project, organization, etc.) stops increasing in proportion to the additional amount of time, money, skill, effort, etc., being spent. Unfortunately, the show's charm has not lasted. Despite increasingly zany plots and more characters than you can keep track of, it seems to have reached the point of diminishing returns. Schools have continued to pile more and more homework on students to catch up to standardized test requirements, going well past the point of diminishing returns. Students are burning out because of the huge workload, and their academic performance is stalling anyway.

the law of diminishing returns

used to refer to the point at which the level of profits or benefits to be gained is reduced to less than the amount of money or energy invested.

This expression originated in the early 19th century with reference to the profits from agriculture.