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bear fruit

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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

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

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