If the answer is a lemon, what is the question?

Posted by Junius on November 07, 2004

I came across this sentence while reading something about James Lind the scottish doctor who discovered (in 1747) the effect of lemons and lime on treating and curing scurvy in the Royal Navy (which apparently killed many more men than wars). now, it's a mistery to me how this phrase and word came to mean something unsatisfactory or worthless (person or object) and is specially applied to faulty cars which eventually led to lemon car laws in America.

I take it informally 'lemon' means a 'dud', a 'fake', a 'botch' and it is also a derisive reply according to Partridge

can anybody explain the connections?

• Peter, Paul, and Mary Ward 07/November/04
  • Peter, Paul, and Mary Fran Oppenheimer 07/November/04
  • Peter, Paul, and Mary Fran Oppenheimer 07/November/04
    • Well said! Lotg 08/November/04