Here's how the term evolved:
* Historically: The phrase likely originated in the agricultural context of cherry harvesting. Picking the ripest, most desirable cherries was a common practice, leaving the less desirable ones behind.
* Metaphorically: This practice was then applied metaphorically to other situations where someone selectively chooses the most favorable elements, often to support a particular argument or point of view.
The earliest recorded use of the phrase in the context of selective choice is from the 19th century. A 1857 newspaper article used "cherry-picking" to describe someone who was choosing only the best candidates for a job.
Therefore, the phrase "cherry-picking" originates from the practice of selecting the best cherries from a tree, and it has evolved into a metaphor for choosing the most favorable elements in any situation.