Dead Sea fruit

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dead Sea fruit¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

All that had proved preeminently unsuccessful, a most poisonous harvest of Dead Sea fruit.

From Project Gutenberg

Unconscious blasphemers are they who would offer this Dead Sea fruit as the true manna of Life!

From Project Gutenberg

I tried to smoke, but the thing tasted like Dead Sea fruit and I pitched it out of the open window.

From Project Gutenberg

Her warm invitation to him to call on her—possibly to take her again to lunch—had borne only Dead Sea fruit.

From Project Gutenberg

All were dead-sea fruit, dust and ashes; there never would be any Browns of Bessington in the years to come.

From Project Gutenberg