Idiom Topics
The Ubiquitous Essentials
10- On the other hand
- At the end of the day
- In the long run
- Bear in mind
- A piece of cake
- Keep an eye on
- Out of the blue
- Rule of thumb
- So far, so good
- Behind the scenes
Everyday Casual & Workplace
10- Under the weather
- Call it a day
- Up in the air
- Wrap your head around
- Break the ice
- Get out of hand
- Go the extra mile
- Touch base
- Hit the nail on the head
- Cut corners
Problem Solving & Interaction
10- See eye to eye
- Read between the lines
- Take it with a grain of salt
- Get the hang of it
- Give the benefit of the doubt
- The elephant in the room
- Hit the ground running
- Play it by ear
- Bite the bullet
- Sit on the fence
Decisions & Perspectives
9- Jump on the bandwagon
- Cross that bridge when we come to it
- The best of both worlds
- A blessing in disguise
- Once in a blue moon
- Pull someone's leg
- Miss the boat
- Better late than never
- Get your act together
Colorful & Traditional
10- Spill the beans
- Let the cat out of the bag
- Bite off more than you can chew
- Go back to the drawing board
- Barking up the wrong tree
- Actions speak louder than words
- A penny for your thoughts
- Break a leg
- Hit the sack
- Beat around the bush
Academic & Formal Discourse
10- Bear fruit
- Pave the way
- Shed light on
- Go hand in hand
- Tip the scales
- Fly in the face of
- Bring to the table
- Turn a blind eye
- Draw a blank
- State of the art
Emotions & Reactions
10- Over the moon
- Down in the dumps
- On edge
- Blow off steam
- Keep your cool
- Drive someone up the wall
- On cloud nine
- A weight off my shoulders
- At your wits' end
- Thrilled to bits
Effort, Success, & Failure
10- Start from scratch
- Pass with flying colors
- Fall flat
- Go down the drain
- Keep your head above water
- Pay off
- Throw in the towel
- Make headway
- Uphill battle
- Back to square one
Time, Speed, & Urgency
10- Beat the clock
- At the eleventh hour
- Around the clock
- In the nick of time
- Drag your feet
- Time flies
- Make up for lost time
- Call time on
- Ahead of the curve
- On the spur of the moment
Resources, Money, & Value
10- Make ends meet
- Foot the bill
- Break the bank
- Tighten your belt
- Bang for your buck
- A drop in the ocean
- Make a killing
- On a shoestring budget
- Worth your weight in gold
- Pay top dollar
Bear fruit
Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Bear fruit" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourAcademic & Formal Discourse collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.
Bear fruit
To yield positive results, success, or advantages after a period of effort or waiting.
History & Origin
The idiom has ancient agricultural roots, originating from the biological process of a plant or tree maturing and producing edible fruit. It gained widespread metaphorical use in Western literature through early English translations of the Bible, where producing 'good fruit' symbolized a person living a virtuous and productive life. Over centuries, the phrase transitioned from literal farming and religious contexts to a general idiom for any effort that yields successful results.
Examples
I am pleased to report that our intensive marketing campaign has finally started to bear fruit, resulting in a 20% increase in inbound leads this month.
After months of studying every single night, her hard work bore fruit when she passed her driving test on the first try.
Historians argue that the economic reforms implemented during the mid-decade did not fully bear fruit until the subsequent administration took office.
The diplomatic talks between the two neighboring nations are expected to bear fruit soon, with officials hinting at a landmark trade agreement.
May your dedication to this community project bear fruit for generations to come, bringing prosperity and unity to all our citizens.
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?
A. We need to buy some groceries because the refrigerator is completely bearing fruit.
B. The heavy storm was bearing fruit all over the coastal town, causing major power outages.
C. Years of painstaking laboratory research bore fruit when the team successfully synthesized the new vaccine.
D. He tried to bear fruit his apology by buying her flowers, but she was still very angry.