cherrypicker
cherrypicker Lexical Profile
cherrypicker Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A hydraulic crane or mobile elevated platform equipped with a railed bucket or cab at the end of an extendable arm, used for raising workers to service utility lines, trim trees, or harvest fruit.
"The municipal crew used a cherrypicker to repair the damaged streetlights after the storm."
A person or organization that selectively chooses only the most beneficial, profitable, or favorable items, facts, or opportunities from what is available while ignoring the rest.
"Critics accused the analyst of being a cherrypicker who only cited data that supported his predetermined conclusion."
North American In basketball, ice hockey, and other team sports, an offensive player who lingers near the opponent's goal or basket waiting for easy scoring opportunities rather than helping on defense.
"The coach benched the forward for acting like a cherrypicker instead of hustling back on defense."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-20th century as a compound of 'cherry' and 'picker'; the mechanical crane sense derives from its original agricultural use for harvesting fruit from tall orchard trees, while the figurative sense refers to selecting only the ripest cherries.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.