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You are here: Home / Language / Where Did the Term “Lemon” Come From and Why is it Used To Describe a Worthless Purchase?

Where Did the Term “Lemon” Come From and Why is it Used To Describe a Worthless Purchase?

April 26, 2020 by Karen Hill

In 1910, the rotating slot machine appeared as a device for dispensing chewing gum and gave us the symbols still used on slot machines today.

The spinning flavors were cherry, orange, and plum.

Each wheel had a bar reading “1910 Fruit Gum,” and three of those in a row paid off in a jackpot of gum.

But, also like today, if any row came up a lemon there was no payout at all, which gave us the disappointed expression, “It’s a lemon.”

A disappointing purchase or investment is often called a “lemon”.

The term may also be a metaphor for something which “leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth.”

Related Facts

  • Who Invented Chewing Gum?
  • How Is Chewing Gum Made and Where does Chewing Gum come from?
  • What Causes Fruit To Turn Brown When Cut and How Does Lemon Juice Stop Cut Apples and Pears From Browning?
  • Why is Lemon Often Served With Fish and Where Did the Practice come From Originally?
  • Why Does Black Tea Lighten or Change Color When You Add Lemon Juice and What Causes the Chemical Change?
  • What Is the Best Way To Squeeze the Maximum Amount of Juice Out of a Lemon or Lime?

Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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