bitter apple

noun

1. colocynth ( defs 1, 2 ).

bitter apple

noun

1. another name for colocynth

Word History and Origins

Origin of bitter apple¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

“You can also use something like bitter apple spray on the entire length of the lights, and that will deter any chewing.”

From Slate

But then this last one, and I want to think about it just for a little bit longer: “shining aubergine, black-skinned / beauty, bitter apple.”

From The New Yorker

Except that the survey was in Korea, the homeland of bitter Apple rival Samsung. iPhones have few failures, Korean respondents said, with only 17% having any issue with their Apple smartphone, while 31% reported issues with Android-based Samsung phones.

From The Guardian

Bitter apple, Bitter cucumber, Bitter gourd.

From Project Gutenberg

Having taken nothing since morning but a little raspberry vinegar, with which Mr. Carlile supplied me, I began to feel weak, but nothing was offered me except a little warm water, for which I asked, and this, with a very hard and bitter apple, constituted my supper.

From Project Gutenberg