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lemon

/ˈlɛmən/

When referring to the fruit, "lemon" is a countable noun. You can have one lemon or several lemons. In the context of a defective product (like a car), "lemon" is used as an informal slang term. It describes something that seems fine at first but fails quickly after purchase. When used to describe a color, it acts as an adjective or a noun describing a specific shade of bright yellow.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon, David is in his car in the office parking lot.
David Smith

My new company car just broke down again. I think I got a total lemon.

David Smith
Brian
Brian

Sucks for you. Did you try restarting it?

💡
David uses 'lemon' as an idiom for a defective vehicle. Brian responds with his signature grumpy, dismissive IT mindset by suggesting a 'restart' for a mechanical car failure.

Meanings

noun

A pale yellow oval citrus fruit with a sour taste.

"She squeezed a fresh lemon over the grilled fish."

noun

A vehicle or other product that is found to be defective after it has been bought.

"I thought I got a great deal on the used car, but it turned out to be a total lemon."

color

A bright yellow color resembling that of a lemon.

"The kitchen was painted a cheerful shade of lemon."

Related Words

Last Updated: May 22, 2026Report an Error