# suck a lemon

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/suck-a-lemon
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be in a sour or negative mood.

## Examples

- He looks like he is sucking a lemon today.
- She has been sucking a lemon all morning, so it is best to leave her alone.
- Despite the festive atmosphere of the celebration, he stood in the corner sucking a lemon, clearly unimpressed by the joy surrounding him.

## Origin

The phrase derives from the involuntary facial contraction, or grimace, typically produced by the tartness of a lemon's citric acid.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.