low-hanging fruit

noun

low-hang·​ing fruit ˈlō-ˈhaŋ-iŋ- How to pronounce low-hanging fruit (audio)
: the obvious or easy things that can be most readily done or dealt with in achieving success or making progress toward an objective
Maria and Victor have about three months' living expenses set aside. That's actually pretty good … . But I urged them to do better … . Looking at their monthly expenses, we found a few pieces of low-hanging fruit: Two hundred dollars a month on clothes? I don't think so. Another $155 for hair and manicures? Denied.Suze Orman
often used with pick
As the writers and producers sat down in spring 2007 to draw the outlines of Season 7, they knew, Mr. Gordon said, that most of the low-hanging fruit in the action genre had already been picked.Edward Wyatt
When business types talk about picking low-hanging fruit, they don't mean, heaven forbid, doing actual physical labor. They mean finding easy solutions.Allan Sloan

Examples of low-hanging fruit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The low-hanging fruit is improving the performance of BRK’s core holdings, and maybe even shedding companies that shouldn’t be in the BRK portfolio. Vitaliy Katsenelson, Fortune, 14 May 2026 There are low-hanging fruit to make medications for seniors safer. Leana S. Wen, Washington Post, 14 May 2026 Start by going after the low-hanging fruit that will improve the transit experience for your customers at no additional cost. Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026 Fans don’t have to be so quickly aggrieved by analysts, nor so easily entertained by the lowest of the low-hanging fruit. Candace Buckner, New York Times, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for low-hanging fruit

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of low-hanging fruit was in 1909

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Cite this Entry

“Low-hanging fruit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/low-hanging%20fruit. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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