lemon
noun (informal)

- something that does not work

- a very silly person

The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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ORIGIN

“Lymon”, from the 1400s, stems from the Old French (12th century) limon, meaning citrus fruit", from Arabic laimun, Persian limun. Apparently brought from India to the Levant by the Arabs in the 9th or 10th century; the word is perhaps ultimately from an Austronesian word of the Malay archipelago, such as Balinese limo "lemon," Malay limaw "citrus fruit, lime”.

The first known usage of "lemon," as a defective product is from 1909 in the book "Motor Age," where "lemon" is defined as “a machine which has various manufacturing defects and is unsatisfactory to the purchaser."

Why should "lemon" refer to faulty item? — maybe because getting stuck with a defective product can leave a "sour taste in one's mouth”.

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WHEN SOUR TURNS SWEET

"Lemon Laws" are a fascinating demonstration of consumer protection. Originating in the United States during the 1980s, these laws protect consumers who unknowingly purchase "lemons" - defective vehicles that fail to meet standards of quality and performance. The term "lemon" refers to a product that's attractive on the outside but sour within.

The specifics of U.S. Lemon Laws vary by state, but they generally require manufacturers to replace the vehicle or refund the purchase if the product has a significant defect. This ensures fair treatment of consumers and holds manufacturers accountable for the quality of their products.

While Lemon Laws primarily apply to cars, many states have extended these laws to cover other consumer goods like boats and appliances. Globally, similar legal protections exist, highlighting the universal need for consumer rights and protection against defective products.

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SYNONYMS

albatross, bad apple (buy, deal, egg, job, lot, bad penny), black sheep, blunder, botch, bug, bugbear, bummer, can of worms, clinker, clunker, curse, debacle, defective (unit), dud, duffer, fizzle, flop, gaffe, glitch, goof, gremlin, junk, kludge, LEMON, load, menace, mess, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishanter, mishap, misstep, mistake, nightmare, no-good, nuisance, nuisance value, obstacle, old banger, pain, pain in the bum, pain in the neck, pain in the rear, pest, pet hate, piece of junk (crap), plague, poor specimen, rotten apple (egg, luck, potato), rubbish, trash, wreck, wrong number, yoke

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“Did you ever have the experience of buying an attractive product that turned out to be LEMON?”

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