high-hanging fruit

English

Noun

high-hanging fruit (uncountable)

1. (literally) Fruit that, because of its height from the ground, is more difficult to harvest.
2. (figuratively) Anything that is difficult to achieve, and which is postponed while simpler alternatives are still available.

   Antonym: low-hanging fruit

   • 2007 Ricardo Cavicchioli - Archaea: Molecular and Cellular Biology - Page 455

     The smaller research-based centers will tackle the much more difficult to express, high-hanging fruit, in particular, represented by membrane and posttransationally modified proteins.