Is 'acid drop' a common word today?

No, it is considered low-frequency and somewhat dated, especially in American English.

Can 'acid drop' be used as a verb?

No, it is exclusively a noun (both for the sweet and the figurative person).

What's the difference between an 'acid drop' and a 'lemon drop'?

Both are boiled sweets, but a 'lemon drop' is specifically lemon-flavored and can be sweet or sweet-and-sour. An 'acid drop' is defined by its sharp, sour taste and isn't necessarily lemon-flavored.

Is the figurative use insulting?

It is critical, implying someone is sharp-tongued and unpleasant, but it can also carry a grudging respect for their wit, especially in literary contexts.

acid drop

Low

UK/ˌæsɪd ˈdrɒp/US/ˌæsɪd ˈdrɑːp/

Informal, somewhat dated

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A type of hard, sour boiled sweet (candy).

1. A sweet with a sour, sharp, or tangy flavor. 2. (Figurative, dated/informal) A person who is sharp-tongued, sarcastic, or consistently critical.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

As a literal sweet, the term is known but not widely used in contemporary commerce. The figurative use for a person is now quite rare and has an old-fashioned, literary tone.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The term for the sweet is primarily British; the equivalent American concept would be a 'sour candy' or specific brand names (e.g., 'Warheads', 'Sour Patch Kids'). The figurative use is largely found in British literature.

Connotations

UK: Evokes nostalgia, traditional sweet shops. US: Largely unrecognized; if understood, carries a quaint, British connotation.

Frequency

Much more likely to be encountered in the UK, though still infrequent.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

traditional acid dropold-fashioned acid drop

medium

sharp acid dropbag of acid drops

weak

like an acid droptaste of acid drops

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[Person] is a real acid drop.He offered her an acid drop.

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Neutral

sour sweetsharp candy

Weak

boiled sweethard candy

Vocabulary

Antonyms

sweetheartsugary treat

Usage

Context Usage

Everyday

Used when referring to old-fashioned sweets or describing a person's acerbic character humorously.

Examples

By CEFR Level

My grandad likes acid drops.

She bought a bag of traditional acid drops from the sweet shop.

His constant sarcastic remarks earned him a reputation as a bit of an acid drop.

The critic's acid-drop reviews were feared by playwrights but relished by the public for their wit.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a sweet that makes your face 'drop' because it's so 'acidic' or sour.

Conceptual Metaphor

PERSON IS A SOUR SUBSTANCE (for the figurative meaning).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Не переводите дословно как "кислотная капля" в химическом смысле. В прямом значении это "кислая конфетка" или "леденец с кислым вкусом".

Common Mistakes

Using it to refer to any sour food (it's specifically a type of sweet/candy).
Using the figurative sense in modern casual conversation where it would sound odd.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

In the old novel, the stern governess was described as a real , never having a kind word for anyone.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary meaning of 'acid drop'?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is considered low-frequency and somewhat dated, especially in American English.
: No, it is exclusively a noun (both for the sweet and the figurative person).
: Both are boiled sweets, but a 'lemon drop' is specifically lemon-flavored and can be sweet or sweet-and-sour. An 'acid drop' is defined by its sharp, sour taste and isn't necessarily lemon-flavored.
: It is critical, implying someone is sharp-tongued and unpleasant, but it can also carry a grudging respect for their wit, especially in literary contexts.