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Fruit of the Poisonous Tree

What Does "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" Mean?

homeidiomsFruit of the Poisonous Tree
"Fruit of the poisonous tree" is an English idiom. It means "in legal terms, evidence that is obtained illegally and thus cannot be used in court."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "fruit of the poisonous tree" used in a sentence:
  • The evidence was thrown out as it was considered fruit of the poisonous tree.
  • The lawyer argued that the information was the fruit of the poisonous tree and should be disregarded.
  • Without that tainted testimony, which was fruit of the poisonous tree, the prosecution had no case.
meaning for fruit of the poisonous tree

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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