Idiom idiom
an apple a day keeps the doctor away
Meaning
Apples are good for you
Examples
“I eat fruit every morning because an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
“My grandmother always packs fruit in my lunch, reminding me that an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
“While modern medicine is essential, many people still follow the traditional advice that an apple a day keeps the doctor away to maintain their general health.”
Origin
first recorded 20th c.
first recorded 20th c.
From a Welsh proverb recorded in the 1860s: 'Eat an apple on going to bed, and you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread'; the modern form appeared by 1913.
Last updated June 7, 2026