Why are people called lemon?

The phrase “lemon” has been used for centuries to refer to an inferior product or person The Online Etymology Dictionary indicates that there are several possible origins for this usage One possibility is that it came from early 20th century American slang, where a “lemon” referred to “a person who is a loser, a simpleton” This may have been derived from the phrase “a lemon of a person,” which was used to describe someone who was not very smart or capable

Another possible origin of the phrase “lemon” is from the phrase “to get lemons,” which was used to describe a situation in which a person was taken advantage of or cheated This phrase was often used to describe a situation in which someone was sold a defective product or was given something of lesser value than what they had expected This phrase may have been derived from the idea that lemons are sour and not very desirable, and thus were used to describe a bad situation

A third possible origin of the phrase “lemon” is from the idea of a lemon being a “sour” or “bitter” person This may have been derived from the idea that lemons are sour and not very desirable, and thus were used to describe someone who was unpleasant or difficult to deal with This phrase may also have been derived from the idea that lemons are not very desirable to eat, and thus were used to describe someone who was not very pleasant or enjoyable to be around

Finally, the phrase “lemon” may have been derived from the idea of a lemon being a “dud” or “joke” This phrase was often used to describe something that was not very good or useful, and thus was used to describe a person who was not very capable or reliable This phrase may have been derived from the idea that lemons are not very desirable to eat, and thus were used to describe someone who was not very capable or reliable

In , the phrase “lemon” has been used for centuries to refer to an inferior product or person There are several possible origins for this usage, including early 20th century American slang, the phrase “to get lemons,” the idea of a lemon being a “sour” or “bitter” person, and the idea of a lemon being a “dud” or “joke” While the exact origin of the phrase is unknown, it is clear that it has been used for centuries to refer to an inferior product or person