love potion

American  

noun

1. a magical potion believed to arouse love or sexual passion toward a specified person, especially the person offering it.

---

love potion British  

noun

1. any drink supposed to arouse sexual love in the one who drinks it

---

Etymology

Origin of love potion

First recorded in 1640–50

Explanation

In mythology, a love-potion is a magical drink that makes the person who sips it fall in love. If you've got a crush on a classmate who doesn't know you're alive, you might be tempted to mix up a love-potion. Love-potions are featured in a variety of literature, fairy tales, and the mythology of many cultures. Influencing a person to return your love might seem from many stories to be as simple as mixing up an elixir. A love-potion gone wrong plays a part in Wagner's opera "Tristan und Isolde," as well as the popular song first recorded by The Clovers in 1959, "Love Potion No. 9." In Latin, potion means "drink" or "poisonous drink."

Example Sentences

Now, a study has revealed the fungus creates a love potion by releasing chemicals that lure flies to increase their chances of infection.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 1, 2021

Sadly, my Spanish is not good enough for me to confidently buy a love potion, as a fellow shopper suggested I do.

From New York Times • Sep. 23, 2016

Later, as its availability spread, chocolate gained a reputation as a love potion.

From Textbooks • Dec. 30, 2014

Snodin knows Shakespeare's plays well enough to drop witty allusions as freely as Puck sprinkles love potion around the forest.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 4, 2012

Ron’s idiotic love potion has burnt through it, right through it.

From "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" by J.K. Rowling