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

Have you learned the secret of perpetual youth that you deliberately fritter away its golden moments in order to rush after the Dead Sea fruit of domination and power?

From Petticoat Rule by Orczy, Emmuska Orczy, Baroness

You are only exulting over Dead Sea fruit.

From The Old Countess; or, The Two Proposals by Stephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)

And if Alfred's pudding tasted of the salt of Dead Sea fruit this evening, it was from my surreptitious tears that dripped into it.

From The Melting of Molly by Daviess, Maria Thompson

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

From The History of Sir Richard Calmady A Romance by Malet, Lucas