bushel

Related to bushel: hide your light under a bushel, bushel and a peck

a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel

1. proverb It only takes one bad person, thing, element, etc., to ruin the entire group, situation, project, etc. Refers to the fact that a rotting apple can cause other apples in close proximity to begin to rot as well. A: "It used to be considered the top research facility in the region, but after one of its researchers was discovered to have plagiarized a number of his papers, the whole department's reputation has been dragged through the mud." B: "Well, a rotten apple spoils the bushel." I really loved my job, but there was this one jerk there who made life miserable for everyone. One rotten apple spoils the whole bushel, unfortunately.
2. proverb The criminal, unethical, corrupt, or otherwise negative behavior of a single person will spread to other people around them. Ever since that crook took over as CEO, the company has been backsliding into shadier and shadier business arrangements. A rotten apple really does spoil the bushel. A: "Is it any wonder? When corrupt liars take office, suddenly everyone who benefits from them starts to believe—and spread—their lies to maintain the status quo." B: "It's true, then, that a rotten apple spoils the whole bushel."
See also: apple, bushel, rotten, spoil

bushel and a peck (and some in a gourd)

A lot. This phrase is typically used to emphasize how much one loves someone else. My darling wife, I love you a bushel and a peck.
See also: and, bushel, peck

bushel bubby

obsolete A woman with large breasts. Of course Jack's dating yet another bushel bubby—you know he can't resist ladies with certain, ah, assets. You need to do something about your décolletage so as to not look like a bushel bubby.
See also: bushel

can't carry a tune

Can't sing well; totally lacks musical talent. I think it's lovely that George wants to be in his church choir, but that boy can't carry a tune!
See also: carry, tune

can't carry a tune in a bushel basket

Totally without musical talent, especially in singing. I think it's lovely that George wants to be in his church choir, but that boy can't carry a tune in a bushel basket!
See also: basket, bushel, carry, tune

don't hide your light under a bushel

Utilize or emphasize your talents; don't let your strengths or skills go unused or unnoticed. Don't give up drawing! You're a talented artist—don't hide your light under a bushel.
See also: bushel, hide, light

hide (one's) light under a bushel

To avoid utilizing or emphasizing one's talents. Don't give up drawing! You're a talented artist and shouldn't hide your light under a bushel.
See also: bushel, hide, light

it takes one bad apple to spoil the (whole) bushel

proverb It only takes one person, thing, element, etc., to ruin the entire group, situation, project, etc. Refers to the fact that a rotting apple can cause other apples in close proximity to begin to rot as well. A: "It used to be considered the top research facility in the region, but after one of its researchers was discovered to have plagiarized a number of his papers, the whole department's reputation has been dragged through the mud." B: "Well, it takes just one bad apple to spoil the bushel." I really loved my job, but there was this one jerk there who made life miserable for everyone. It takes one bad apple to spoil the whole bushel, unfortunately.
See also: apple, bad, bushel, one, spoil, take

one bad apple spoils the (whole) bushel

proverb It only takes one person, thing, element, etc., to ruin the entire group, situation, project, etc. Refers to the fact that a rotting apple can cause other apples in close proximity to begin to rot as well. A: "It used to be considered the top research facility in the region, but after one of its researchers was discovered to have plagiarized a number of his papers, the whole department's reputation has been dragged through the mud." B: "Well, just one bad apple spoils the bushel." I really loved my job, but there was this one jerk there who made life miserable for everyone. One bad apple spoils the whole bushel, unfortunately.
See also: apple, bad, bushel, one, spoil

one rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel

1. proverb It only takes one bad person, thing, element, etc., to ruin the entire group, situation, project, etc. Refers to the fact that a rotting apple can cause other apples in close proximity to begin to rot as well. A: "It used to be considered the top research facility in the region, but after one of its researchers was discovered to have plagiarized a number of his papers, the whole department's reputation has been dragged through the mud." B: "Well, one rotten apple spoils the bushel." I really loved my job, but there was this one jerk there who made life miserable for everyone. One rotten apple spoils the whole bushel, unfortunately.
2. proverb The criminal, unethical, corrupt, or otherwise negative behavior of a single person will spread to other people around them. Ever since that crook took over as CEO, the company has been backsliding into shadier and shadier business arrangements. One rotten apple really does spoil the bushel. A: "Is it any wonder? When corrupt liars take office, suddenly everyone who benefits from them starts to believe—and spread—their lies to maintain the status quo." B: "It's true, then, that one rotten apple spoils the whole bushel."
See also: apple, bushel, one, rotten, spoil
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bushel and a peck (and some in a gourd)

Rur. a great deal or amount. (Usually used to answer the question, "How much do you love me?") Mary: How much do you love me? Tom: A bushel and a peck and some in a gourd. We knew that Grandpa loved us a bushel and a peck.
See also: and, bushel, peck

can't carry a tune

 and cannot carry a tune; can't carry a tune in a bushel basket; can't carry a tune in a bucket; can't carry a tune in a paper sack
Fig. [to be] unable to sing a simple melody; lacking musical ability. I wish that Tom wouldn't try to sing. He can't carry a tune. I don't know why Mary's in the choir. She can't carry a tune in a bushel basket. Joe likes to sing in the shower, though he can't carry a tune in a bucket. I'd try to hum the song for you, but I can't carry a tune in a paper sack.
See also: carry, tune

hide one's light under a bushel

Fig. to conceal one's good ideas or talents. (A biblical theme.) Jane has some good ideas, but she doesn't speak very often. She hides her light under a bushel. Don't hide your light under a bushel. Share your thoughts with other people.
See also: bushel, hide, light
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

hide one's light under a bushel

Show extreme modesty, as in Even after Paul won the scholarship be went on hiding his light under a bushel. This expression, which does not necessarily express approval of this behavior, has its origin in the New Testament (Matthew 5:15): "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick." [Early 1600s]
See also: bushel, hide, light
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

hide your light under a bushel

If you hide your light under a bushel, you do not let people know about your skills and good features. If you have knowledge your superiors don't, or if you can do something they can't, don't be tempted to hide your light under a bushel for fear of upsetting them. We are proud of the facilities in Newmarket and this is not the time to hide our light under a bushel. Note: If you do not hide your light under a bushel, you are very confident about your skills and good features, and not at all modest. There are those who find his vanity off-putting. He does not hide his light under a bushel. Note: This is from the Bible, where Jesus says: `Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick.' (Matthew 5:15)
See also: bushel, hide, light
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

hide your light under a bushel

keep quiet about your talents or accomplishments.
A bushel is a unit of measurement equal to eight gallons: in former times the word also referred to a container able to hold this amount. The expression has its source in Matthew 5:15: ‘neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick’.
1997 Spectator Actors are not naturally people who believe in hiding their light under a bushel.
See also: bushel, hide, light
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

hide your ˌlight under a ˈbushel

(British English) not let people know that you are good at something: We didn’t know you could play the guitar! You’ve been hiding your light under a bushel all this time!This phrase comes from the Bible.
See also: bushel, hide, light
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

hide one's light under a bushel, to

To conceal one’s talents; to be extremely modest. The term comes from the Bible (Matthew 5:15): “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick.” The bushel in question was not presumably the unit of weight so called but the container that would hold it—in other words, a bushel basket. Although modesty is generally considered a desirable trait, those who have used this expression over the centuries do not necessarily extol or even recommend it.
See also: hide, light
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer

hide your light under a bushel

Not to reveal hidden abilities. The expression is usually used in advice to reveal those talents and then use them. A bushel was a container for measuring grain. In Matthew 15:15, Jesus said, “Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick.”
See also: bushel, hide, light
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • a bad apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel
  • one rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • one rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch
  • one rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel
  • rotten apple spoils the barrel
  • one bad apple spoils the (whole) bunch
  • one bad apple spoils the (whole) bushel
References in periodicals archive
Darrel Good of the University of Illinois estimated 435 million bushels of wheat, twice the usual amount, was fed to livestock in the three-month period.
Prices surge as stockpiles of US grain shrink on drought
On the average, we freeze one million bushels (at $0.22 per bushel), dry one million bushels (at $0.28 per bushel), and one million bushels are delivered direct, for a total average energy cost of $0.17 per bushel.
Freezing instead of drying high-moisture corn: a system design
US farmers are also expected to plant about 76.024 million acres of soybeans, which under normal conditions could mean a harvest of more than 3 billion bushels. Last year's crop came in at 2.959 billion bushels.
US farmers hit fields to sow corn, soy for world
During the Middle Ages it seems we measured grain in bushels and a bushel, when full of wheat, was reckoned to weigh 64 tower pounds or 56 avoirdupois pounds.
FOOD: No bushel big enough to hide our delight
Approximately how many more bushels of corn were used to make ethanol in 2002 than were used in 2001?--
Corn power
To buy a December delivery futures contract for a price of $2 per bushel, the trader must post a margin of approximately $1,000.
Chapter 5 Fundamentals of futures hedging
The study projects the following if season-average corn prices over a 10-year period ending in 2016 increased to $4.42 per bushel (based upon $65-$70 per-barrel crude oil), compared to $2-per-bushel corn:
ISU study sees U.S. food expenses rising as much as $20 billion annually
Corn yields of 152.3 bushels an acre would be the second-highest ever, although down by 2.7 bushels from an August estimate.
Big US corn, soy crops outpaced by high usage
Corn use for ethanol continues to lag the US Department of Agriculture's forecast for 5 billion bushels needed this marketing year.
US ethanol output increases by 2pc
The agency said farmers are forecast to deliver 14 million bushels, beating the 2009 record of 13.1 billion bushels.
Record crop forecast sends corn prices lower
In June, the deficiency payment per bushel of corn was 75 cents, so the average large family farm, which produces 214,852 bushels of corn a year, was eligible for a $161,000 deficiency payment.
Green thumbs: the PiK and Roll and other scams from the farm belt; the ingenious ways farmers milk government subsidy programs
CBOT July soft red winter wheat settled up 9-1/4 cents at $5.35-1/2 per bushel and gained relative to back months on spreads, supported by strong domestic cash basis bids.
CBOT wheat ends higher, following strength in corn
instead enters options contracts in February to buy the needed bushels of grain in July at $3 per bushel.
The question of derivatives