Dead Sea fruit

American  

noun

1. something that appears to be beautiful or full of promise but is in reality nothing but illusion and disappointment.

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Etymology

Origin of Dead Sea fruit

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Dead Sea fruit

The penalties imposed upon her were Dead Sea fruit.

From Time Magazine Archive

Henceforward, the pleasure of life would be as Dead Sea fruit to him.

From Adrien Leroy by Charles Garvice

She had found the wisdom which is hidden at the core of all Dead Sea fruit, and the bitter taste of it was still in her mouth.

From The Wheel of Life by Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow

Positive though he may be that a worldly ambition realised will produce the same dissatisfaction as Dead Sea fruit in the mouth, he will still continue to struggle.

From The Feast of St. Friend by Arnold Bennett

Here she was in Barcelona, and the fulfilled desire seemed likely to become already Dead Sea fruit.

From The Hippodrome by Rachel Hayward