cherry-pick

English

Alternative forms

• cherry pick

Etymology

A metaphor, from the idea of picking through a bowl of cherries and seeking the best for oneself.

Verb

cherry-pick (third-person singular simple present cherry-picks, present participle cherry-picking, simple past and past participle cherry-picked)

1. (idiomatic) To pick out the best, or most desirable items from a list or group, especially to obtain some advantage or to present something in the best possible light.

   From all the available statistics, the politician cherry-picked only those that backed up his ideas.

   • 2012 April 29, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Treehouse of Horror III” (season 4, episode 5; originally aired 10/29/1992)”:

     In time The Simpsons would, indeed, resort to spoofing such decidedly non-spooktacular fare like E.T and Mr. And Mrs. Smith (both in “Treehouse Of Horror XVIII”) but in 1992 the field was wide-open and the show could cherry-pick the most iconic and beloved fright fare of all time.

Translations

pick out the best from a list or group

• Swedish: plocka russinen ur kakan (sv) (pick the raisins out of the cake)

See also

• cherry picker