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buy a lemon
/baɪ ə ˈlɛmən/◆idiom
purchase a defective item
He bought a used car online, but it turned out to be a lemon.
He purchased a used car that was defective or malfunctioning.
informal
to purchase something that turns out to be defective, broken, or worthless despite appearing functional.
I thought I was getting a great deal on that phone, but it was a lemon.
The phone was defective from the start.
She bought a vintage guitar at an auction, only to discover it was a lemon.
The guitar was in poor condition and unplayable.
Commonly used in the context of vehicles, electronics, or secondhand goods.
Collocations
lemon cara car that is defective or unreliableturn out to be a lemonto be revealed as defective or worthless
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context matters
Use 'buy a lemon' only when referring to defective items, not people or abstract concepts.
Gold Rule
Avoid literal interpretation
The phrase does not involve actual lemons or fruit. It is entirely figurative.
Word Origin
The phrase originates from the early 20th century American slang. The term 'lemon' was used to describe something defective or of poor quality, possibly derived from the idea of a fruit that looks good on the outside but is sour inside. By the 1960s, it became associated with automobiles that were sold despite being faulty.
Usage Notes
The phrase is informal and primarily used in the context of purchasing used goods, especially cars. It implies that the buyer was misled about the item's condition.
Word Breakdown
buy
to acquire in exchange for money
verba lemon
a defective or worthless item
noun phraseEnglish Dictionary