

fruit of (one's) loins

One's child or children; one's immediate or future descendant(s). As the baby-boomer generation ages, many are increasingly relying on the fruit of their loins for financial and medical support. Little could she know that, nearly two centuries later, the fruit of her loins would be in nearly every continent on the planet.
See also: fruit, loin, of

fruit of the poisonous tree

In US law, any secondary legal evidence that has been obtained as the result of unconstitutional or illegal means or information gathered in such a way. Such evidence, both the primary source and the secondary result, are generally inadmissible in court. The police were found to have obtained the knowledge of the illicit firearms' location from a search they conducted without a warrant, and thus this fruit of the poisonous tree was ultimately not admitted during the prosecution.
See also: fruit, of, tree

fruit of the union

1. A child or children resulting from the union between two people, such as a marriage or domestic union. Also written as "fruit of one's union." Why wouldn't you want to have children? They're the normal fruit of the union of marriage! When we started the divorce proceedings, the largest question was who would retain custody over the fruit of our union.
2. The offspring resulting from a sexual union between two mates. A "labradoodle," one of the cutest but silliest-named crossbreeds around, is the fruit of the union between a Labrador Retriever and a poodle.
3. The outcome, result, or product of an interaction or union between two or more bodies, elements, or forces. Water is merely the fruit of the union of two hydrogen atoms and a single oxygen atom. The treaty was ultimately the fruit of the union of two brilliant academics on either side of the war, who worked for months with each side's leaders to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
See also: fruit, of, union

forbidden fruit is the sweetest

People are drawn to things that they are forbidden from doing or having. A: "I know you're intrigued by Derek, but he's married!" B: "But forbidden fruit is the sweetest!" Since forbidden fruit is the sweetest, I couldn't stop myself from taking a piece of the cake my mom had specifically made for work.
See also: forbidden, fruit, sweet

fruit salad

rude slang A disparaging term for a homosexual man (as is "fruit").
See also: fruit, salad

he that would eat the fruit must climb the tree

One must work for what one wants. You can't rely on sheer intelligence in order to get good grades—he that would eat the fruit must climb the tree.
See also: climb, eat, fruit, he, must, tree

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, fruit

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.
See also: 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: fruit, labor, of

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.
See also: fruit

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: fruit, 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: fruit, known, tree

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, fruit

bear fruit

to produce successful results Opening a new store in San Francisco has already borne fruit for the company.
See also: bear, fruit

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, fruit

the bitter fruits

the unpleasant results of something Disease and malnutrition are the bitter fruits of an inefficient social healthcare policy.
See also: bitter, fruit

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.
See also: forbidden, fruit

the fruit of your loins

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: fruit, loin, of

bear fruit

Yield results, have a favorable outcome, as in This new idea of his is bound to bear fruit. This metaphoric term, first recorded in 1879, transfers the production of fruit by a tree or plant to other kinds of useful yield.
See also: bear, fruit

forbidden fruit

See also: forbidden, fruit


1. n. a strange person. (Now overwhelmed by sense 2) Ted is such a fruit.
2. and fruiter n. a homosexual male. (Usually rude and derogatory.) Bob thinks that you-know-who is a fruit.


1. n. a silly-acting person. (Also a term of address.) You can be such a silly fruitcake sometimes.
2. n. a male homosexual. (Rude and derogatory. An elaboration of fruit.) We went into this bar, but it was filled with fruitcakes, so we left.
3. and fruit loop n. a foolish oaf. (Someone who is as nutty as a fruitcake. Fruit loop is borrowed from the cereal of the same [protected trade] name.) What a fruitcake! Doesn’t even know where his head is at. Out of the way, fruit loop.

fruit loop

See also: fruit, loop

hen fruit

n. (chicken) eggs. There’s nothing like hen fruit and bacon.
See also: fruit, hen

the weed of crime bears bitter fruit

References in classic literature ?
There were orchards, too, bearing luscious fruits that are all unknown in our world.
On the table were plates, knives and forks, and dishes of bread, meat and fruits.