lemon drop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-mediumInformal, casual
Quick answer
What does “lemon drop” mean?
A small, hard sweet or candy with a strong lemon flavor, typically made from sugar, lemon juice, and citric acid.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, hard sweet or candy with a strong lemon flavor, typically made from sugar, lemon juice, and citric acid.
A cocktail made with lemon juice, vodka or other spirit, and sugar, served straight up or as a shooter. In other contexts, it can refer to a specific shade of yellow.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'lemon drop' is understood but less common; the more generic term 'lemon sweet' or 'boiled sweet' might be used. The cocktail sense is more prevalent in US contexts. The spelling remains the same.
Connotations
In the US, it often evokes nostalgia, classic candy shops, and specific mid-century cocktails. In the UK, it's a less culturally embedded term.
Frequency
The term is significantly more frequent in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “lemon drop” in a Sentence
I ate a lemon drop.She offered him a lemon drop.We made lemon drop cocktails.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lemon drop” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She wore a lemon-drop coloured cardigan.
American English
- They painted the kitchen a cheerful lemon-drop yellow.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in the confectionery or beverage industry (e.g., 'Our new lemon drop flavour is selling well').
Academic
Extremely rare; not a term of art.
Everyday
Used in contexts of food, drink, and color (e.g., 'Her dress was lemon drop yellow').
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lemon drop”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “lemon drop”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lemon drop”
- Using 'lemon drops' as a singular verb (e.g., 'It lemon drops from the tree' is incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'lemon drizzle' (a cake).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two separate words, though hyphenated forms ('lemon-drop') are sometimes seen when used as a modifier (e.g., 'lemon-drop cocktail').
No, 'lemon drop' is not standardly used as a verb. It is primarily a noun and can be used attributively as an adjective.
In UK English, a sherbet lemon typically has a fizzy, powdered sherbet centre, while a 'lemon drop' more commonly refers to a fully hard, translucent boiled sweet.
While the most common modern recipe uses vodka, the classic 'Lemon Drop' cocktail can also be made with gin, and historical versions sometimes used other spirits. The key components are lemon juice, sugar, and spirit.
A small, hard sweet or candy with a strong lemon flavor, typically made from sugar, lemon juice, and citric acid.
Lemon drop is usually informal, casual in register.
Lemon drop: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlem.ən ˌdrɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlem.ən ˌdrɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a drop of intensely sour lemon juice crystallised into a hard, sweet candy you can drop into your mouth.
Conceptual Metaphor
BRIGHTNESS/TANGIBILITY IS SWEETNESS (e.g., 'a lemon drop of sunshine').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'lemon drop' LEAST likely to be used?