cherry-pick

Meaning

Verb

• To pick out the best or most desirable items from a list or group, especially to obtain some advantage or to present something in the best possible light.
• To select only evidence which supports an argument, and reject or ignore contradictory evidence.
• To position oneself near the opponent's goal to attempt to receive an errant or intentional pass for an easy score, as in basketball or versions of soccer where offsides are not enforced.
• To broadcast selected programming from another network.

Origin

• A metaphor, from the idea of picking through a bowl of cherries and seeking the best for oneself, or the idea of picking off the cherries for oneself from a cake or dessert.