I share 28 a delightful variety of idioms inspired by fruits and vegetables that enrich our everyday language. From the humorous twists like “as nutty as a fruitcake” to cherished phrases such as “the apple of my eye,” each idiom offers a unique taste of linguistic flavor. We will also look at how these phrases can be applied in various contexts, providing clarity through direct examples.
Whether it’s celebrating similarities with “like two peas in a pod” or handling situations with ease like being “cool as a cucumber,” these idioms not only enhance communication but also add color and fun to our expressions. Let’s peel back the layers of language and dive into the juicy details of each idiom, understanding their meanings and seeing them come to life.
List of 28 idioms for fruits
- As nutty as a fruitcake
- Go bananas
- Big cheese
- Lemon law
- The apple of my eye
- A second bite at the cherry
- Bear fruit
- Comparing apples to oranges
- Bad apple
- Cherry-pick
- Full of beans
- Peach of a day
- In a pickle
- Life’s a peach
- Sour grapes
- Spill the beans
- Upset the apple cart
- Watermelon sugar
- When life gives you lemons, make lemonade
- You’re the pineapple of my eye
- Like two peas in a pod
- Low-hanging fruit
- Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
- Forbidden fruit
- Cool as a cucumber
- Peas and carrots
- Hot potato
- Carrot and stick
Funny Fruit Idioms
As nutty as a fruitcake
Meaning: Describing someone who is crazy or behaves oddly.
Example: He came to the party dressed as a pirate—completely nutty as a fruitcake!
Go bananas
Meaning: To become very excited or crazy.
Example: The kids went bananas when they saw the pile of presents.
Big cheese
Meaning: An important person, often in a specific area or field.
Example: She’s the big cheese in the tech industry.
Lemon law
Meaning: Legislation designed to protect consumers from poorly built products.
Example: If your car is a dud, you might want to check if the lemon law can help you get a refund.
Best Fruit Idioms
The apple of my eye
Meaning: Someone very precious or dear.
Example: His youngest daughter was the apple of his eye.
A second bite at the cherry
Meaning: A second chance to achieve something or succeed.
Example: He got a second bite at the cherry when the company rehired him for the project.
Bear fruit
Meaning: To yield positive results.
Example: Years of hard work finally began to bear fruit when she was promoted to manager.
Comparing apples to oranges
Meaning: Comparing two items that cannot be compared due to their different qualities.
Example: Comparing her singing to a professional is like comparing apples to oranges.
Bad apple
Meaning: A disruptive or troublesome person within a group.
Example: Every team has a bad apple, but it’s important not to let one person bring everyone down.
Cherry-pick
Meaning: To selectively choose the best or most desirable items from a group.
Example: She cherry-picked the most relevant statistics for her presentation.
Full of beans
Meaning: To be lively, active, and energetic.
Example: My grandmother is 90 years old but still full of beans.
Peach of a day
Meaning: A particularly excellent or perfect day.
Example: We had a peach of a day at the beach last Saturday.
In a pickle
Meaning: To be in a difficult or tricky situation.
Example: I was in a pickle when I realized I forgot my passport at home.
Life’s a peach
Meaning: Life is wonderful or very enjoyable.
Example: Ever since he retired, he says that life’s a peach.
Sour grapes
Meaning: To disparage something that one cannot obtain as undesirable.
Example: They called it a silly game, but that’s just sour grapes because they lost.
Spill the beans
Meaning: To reveal a secret or disclose information prematurely.
Example: He spilled the beans about their surprise party.
Upset the apple cart
Meaning: To disrupt or interfere with a plan or situation.
Example: Introducing the new policy now might upset the apple cart.
Watermelon sugar
Meaning: Something very sweet or delightful.
Example: This cake is pure watermelon sugar—I love it!
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade
Meaning: Make the best out of a difficult situation.
Example: She started her own business when she was laid off—when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!
You’re the pineapple of my eye
Meaning: A tropical twist on “apple of my eye,” meaning someone dearly beloved.
Example: Ever since they met, he tells her she’s the pineapple of his eye.
Popular Fruit Idioms
Like two peas in a pod
Meaning: Very similar, especially in appearance or behavior.
Example: Those twins are like two peas in a pod, almost indistinguishable.
Low-hanging fruit
Meaning: An easily achievable task or easily obtained item.
Example: Start with the low-hanging fruit when tackling the budget issues.
Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Meaning: Children often resemble their parents in appearance or behavior.
Example: He’s as stubborn as his father—the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Forbidden fruit
Meaning: Something that is desired all the more because it is not allowed.
Example: The stolen glances between them were all the more thrilling because they were forbidden fruit.
Idioms for Fruits and Vegetables
Cool as a cucumber
Meaning: Very calm and composed, especially in stressful situations.
Example: Even during the crisis, she remained as cool as a cucumber.
Peas and carrots
Meaning: Things that go well together.
Example: Jenna and Mara are like peas and carrots—they do everything together.
Hot potato
Meaning: A controversial issue or situation that is awkward or unpleasant to deal with.
Example: The debate about climate change is a hot potato that many politicians try to avoid.
Carrot and stick
Meaning: The use of a combination of reward and punishment to induce a desired behavior.
Example: The company uses a carrot and stick approach to sales targets, offering bonuses but also issuing warnings.
Why do I recommend using fruit idioms in daily communication?
I find that incorporating fruit idioms into everyday language not only enriches verbal exchanges but also infuses conversations with vivid imagery and creativity. For example, saying someone is “as nutty as a fruitcake” immediately conveys their quirky behavior in a colorful and memorable way.
What’s my advice for someone learning to use complex idioms, such as ‘forbidden fruit’?
I always suggest starting with the literal meanings of the words. For instance, understanding that ‘forbidden’ means not allowed and ‘fruit’ often represents something desired, helps in grasping why ‘forbidden fruit’ metaphorically refers to something tempting yet off-limits. Practicing the use in varied contexts like food idioms can further cement one’s understanding and confidence in using such idioms.
