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Diminishing Returns

What Does "Diminishing Returns" Mean?

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"Diminishing returns" is an English idiom. It means "a point at which the level of benefits gained is less than the amount of effort invested."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "diminishing returns" used in a sentence:
  • The team is facing diminishing returns after working 14-hour days.
  • Putting in more hours studying now might yield diminishing returns.
  • The project is experiencing diminishing returns with the current strategy.
meaning for diminishing returns

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 "Diminishing Returns" 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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