A plum job
Meaning
A plum job is an excellent position that is easy, highly desirable, well-paying, and often comes with good benefits or prestige.
Origin
In the days before refrigeration and widespread fresh produce, plums were a highly prized fruit, known for their sweet, juicy flesh and relative rarity, especially compared to more common, less exciting staples. By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the word "plum" had transcended its fruit origins to become an adjective signifying something excellent, desirable, or first-rate, much like "a peach" or "a gem" today. So when a job came along that was particularly easy, well-paid, or prestigious, it was naturally described as "a plum job," evoking the delightful sensation of biting into a perfect, sweet plum—a reward to be savored.
Examples
- After years of hard work, she finally landed a plum job in her dream company.
- Being the head chef at that five-star restaurant is definitely a plum job, coveted by many.