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Code & Deliveryverb · /ˈtʃeri pɪk/

cherry-pick

In simple English

Cherry-picking is a Git operation that allows developers to take one or more specific commits from one branch and apply them to a different branch. This is useful when you need a particular bug fix or feature from another branch without merging the entire branch. For example, if a critical bug fix was committed to the develop branch but you are working on a release branch, you might cherry-pick just that commit rather than pulling in all other unfinished work. In team discussions, developers use this term when discussing selective integration of code changes, particularly in managing hotfixes, releases, or when coordinating work across multiple branches. It is a powerful but careful operation because it can create duplicate commits and confusion if overused.

How to selectively apply specific Git commits from one branch to another without a full merge

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness4/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓Let me cherry-pick that commit
✓We should cherry-pick the hotfix
✓Can you cherry-pick these changes for the release?

Real examples

in a standup

"We discovered a critical bug yesterday, so I cherry-picked the fix from the develop branch into production."

in a code review

"Instead of merging the entire feature branch, let us cherry-pick just the authentication module commit since the rest is still under review."

in a team meeting

"For this release, we will cherry-pick specific improvements from main rather than doing a full merge to keep things stable."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Do not use to mean selecting all commits or changes indiscriminately. It specifically refers to choosing individual commits from one branch and applying them to another, not general selection.

✕We cherry-picked all the commits from develop.
✓We cherry-picked specific commits from develop.— Cherry-picking means selecting individual commits, not all commits. If you take all, you should use merge instead.
✕I cherry-picked the entire feature.
✓I cherry-picked the bug fix commit.— Cherry-pick refers to individual commits, not features or branches as a whole.

Other forms

verb (base form)

cherry-pick

"We need to cherry-pick this commit before deployment."

verb (past tense)

cherry-picked

"I cherry-picked the security patch yesterday."

verb (present participle)

cherry-picking

"Cherry-picking multiple commits can lead to merge conflicts."

noun

cherry-pick

"A strategic cherry-pick of bug fixes ensured stability."

Often used with

cherry-pick a commitMost common usage; selecting a single commit from another branch
cherry-pick a fixUsed when selecting a specific bug fix or patch
cherry-pick into productionApplying selected commits directly to the production branch
cherry-pick from main/developSpecifying which branch you are cherry-picking from

Similar words

backportMore formal; typically means applying fixes to an older version
portBroader term; can mean moving code across branches or versions
apply a commitMore generic; does not imply selective or strategic choice

Opposites

mergerebaseintegrate all changes

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your team needs a security fix from another branch for the release. Which sounds most natural?

Complete the sentence

2. The developer decided to _______ the bug fix from the develop branch instead of merging everything.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses cherry-pick incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this using cherry-pick: 'We will take only the bug fix commit from the other branch and put it into our release branch, not the whole branch.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "cherry-pick" in a standup this week?

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