Are you trying to show that something is easy to do with “low-hanging fruit”? That’s great, but it’s not ideal in every context. Maybe a more versatile synonym will work!
That’s where this article comes in! We’ll explore another way to say “low-hanging fruit” that works in business and personal contexts.
Other Ways to Say “Low-Hanging Fruit”
- Low-risk, high-yield
- Child’s play
- Easy pickings
- Pushover
- Plain sailing
- Smooth sailing
- Cakewalk
- Kids’ stuff
- Easy peasy lemon squeezy
- A piece of cake
- Doss
- Walk in the park
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Low-hanging fruit” is great to use to refer to something easy but can be insulting when directed at a person.
- “Low-risk, high-yield” is an excellent formal synonym you can use.
- “Child’s play” works well conversationally, making it very useful in many informal contexts.
There are plenty of different ways to show that something is easy to do. You can use “low-hanging fruit,” but you should keep reading to learn more about the other synonyms.
Also, you can skip to the final section to learn whether “low-hanging fruit” is offensive. If you’re here to find out more about that, the last part is where you should be!
Low-Risk, High-Yield (Formal)
“Low-risk, high-yield” is an excellent professional idiom you can use as a synonym for “low-hanging fruit.” It shows you do not have to risk a lot in a business context to achieve a high yield (or a positive gain).
It’s very common for managers to talk about “low-risk, high-yield” projects. It helps to keep people efficient because they never need to risk anything to succeed.
You should try using this phrase when instructing employees to do something with little to no risk. As long as you have a good idea for them to get away with a “low-risk, high-yield” project, then it will work well in a formal email.
We certainly recommend using “low-risk, high-yield” over “low-hanging fruit” in formal writing. It’s much more professional, meaning the recipient will view you more positively. Also, it makes you sound more confident, which always helps when emailing employees.
Here’s a quick look into how this phrase works formally:
Dear Sarah,
I appreciate your low-risk, high-yield approach here. I trust that I’ve put the project in good hands.
Kind regards,
Michael
I’ve done it in a way to ensure that it’s low-risk, high-yield. I believe you’ll be pleased with the progress I’ve made.
Child’s Play (Informal)
“Child’s play” is a more informal idiom you can use instead of “low-hanging fruit.” It’s not quite a slang phrase, but it’s a conversational one that works in many contexts.
You should try to use it when showing that something is easy. It’s a great idiom when you already have a good idea for the solution to a problem.
Perhaps you can try it when telling a coworker that the project they’re struggling with is easier than they realize. Of course, you need to be careful saying something like that. It could be insulting, as it makes it sound like you know more than your coworker.
We recommend using “child’s play” and “low-hanging fruit” in more informal contexts. Neither of them works well formally, so you should not write them in business emails.
However, both phrases are effective in conversational situations. You can switch between them to help mix up your language in different sentences to keep things interesting for the reader.
These examples will show you how to use “child’s play” in a sentence:
Oh, it’s nothing but child’s play! Honestly, I’m surprised you managed to do any of it wrong.
That’s child’s play, Danny! I don’t know why you think it’s complicated. I could do that without an issue.
Is It Offensive to Say “Low-Hanging Fruit”?
Generally, “low-hanging fruit” is not offensive. You do not have to refer to specific people when using “low-hanging fruit.” Using it to talk about a project, for example, simply shows that it is easy to complete.
However, if you refer to people when saying “low-hanging fruit,” it does become insulting. The idea here is that someone is an easy target, meaning they’re naive and more liable to fall for something bad.
You should try and avoid using “low-hanging fruit” when talking about people if you want to be polite. It’s still correct as a metaphor when used to refer to other things that are easy to do.
If you need more alternatives or questions answered about “low-hanging fruit,” you can return to this article. Bookmark it now to ensure you have a reliable resource!