Advertisement
Advertisement
cherry-pick
[cher-ee-pik]
verb (used with object)
to select with great care.
Out of the scores of zombie movies, this reviewer has cherry-picked some of the best ones for fans.
to select (data, examples, etc.) strategically so as to support a particular view or conclusion.
The company systematically cherry-picked data to ensure their products passed quality control tests.
verb (used without object)
(in retail use) to buy only the sale items and ignore the other merchandise.
cherry-pick
verb
(tr) to choose or take the best or most profitable of (a number of things), esp for one's own benefit or gain
cherry-pick the best routes
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of cherry-pick1
First recorded in 1970–75
Advertisement
Discover More
When To Use
What does cherry-pick mean?
To cherry-pick is to choose very carefully. It especially means to select the best of what’s available or being offered.The word sometimes implies that doing so is solely for one’s benefit or gain, or to gain an advantage over others.In the context of research and data, it’s used in a more specific way meaning to selectively choose and present information that supports an existing point of view or hypothesis. This kind of cherry-picking is often unethical.In sports like basketball and soccer (football), cherry-pick means something different: to position oneself away from the main action and most defenders, near the basket or goal, in hopes of being passed the ball and being able to score easily. A person who does this can be called a cherry picker.The term cherry picker can also refer to anyone who cherry-picks in any of the senses of the word. It’s also used in a much more specific way to refer to a kind of crane with a bucket for a person to stand in, especially one mounted on a truck. This kind of cherry picker can be used to lift someone up to heights that can’t be reached by most ladders, such as to trim trees or fix power lines.Cherry-pick is sometimes spelled without a hyphen, as cherry pick.Example: When I was building my computer, I had to cherry-pick the best components from multiple brands to achieve a well-constructed machine.
To cherry-pick is to choose very carefully. It especially means to select the best of what’s available or being offered.The word sometimes implies that doing so is solely for one’s benefit or gain, or to gain an advantage over others.In the context of research and data, it’s used in a more specific way meaning to selectively choose and present information that supports an existing point of view or hypothesis. This kind of cherry-picking is often unethical.In sports like basketball and soccer (football), cherry-pick means something different: to position oneself away from the main action and most defenders, near the basket or goal, in hopes of being passed the ball and being able to score easily. A person who does this can be called a cherry picker.The term cherry picker can also refer to anyone who cherry-picks in any of the senses of the word. It’s also used in a much more specific way to refer to a kind of crane with a bucket for a person to stand in, especially one mounted on a truck. This kind of cherry picker can be used to lift someone up to heights that can’t be reached by most ladders, such as to trim trees or fix power lines.Cherry-pick is sometimes spelled without a hyphen, as cherry pick.Example: When I was building my computer, I had to cherry-pick the best components from multiple brands to achieve a well-constructed machine.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse
