PhrasesHub

Road apples

    Definitions

      • horse manure
        Referring to the droppings left behind by horses on a road or path

      • obstacles or challenges
        Describing any difficulties or obstacles encountered along a journey or path

    Examples of Road apples

    • The fruit seller's cart was filled with road apples instead of juicy apples.

      The phrase "road apples" is used as an informal term for fallen rotten fruit, especially apples. In this example, the fruit seller's cart is filled with rotten apples that have fallen from trees and collected on the road, instead of fresh apples.

    • The pedestrian stepped carefully over the road apples that littered the pavement.

      In this example, "road apples" is used to describe the rotten fruit that litter the road or pavement, as the pedestrian avoids them while walking.

    • The park ranger collected bags full of road apples from the park every morning.

      In this example, "road apples" describe the rotten fruit that accumulates due to natural reasons in public places, and requires cleaning or collection.

    • The fruit vendor's cart was overrun with road apples during the storm last night, leaving him with no good fruit to sell.

      In this example, "road apples" describe the rotten fruit that accumulate due to natural conditions, such as storms, that damage fruit trees and make them fall from trees. The fruit vendor's cart is filled with these fallen apples, leaving him with no good fruit to sell.

    • After the apple tree in the park was damaged in a storm, all the fallen apples on the ground became road apples as cars drove over them and crushed them into the pavement.

      In this example, "road apples" is being used as a slang term for squished and rotten fruit that has been flattened by car tires and left behind on roads. It is derived from the fact that in the past, farmers would often feed apples to their pigs, and the discarded ones would be thrown onto the roadside, where they would eventually become squished under the weight of passing vehicles. This is a creative and unique way to use the idiom in a sentence, as it isn't just repeated as a standalone phrase.

    • Despite my best efforts to avoid running over road apples on my morning jog, I seem to encounter them more and more frequently on this particular route.

      In this example, "road apples" is being used as a metaphorical representation for unpleasant or obstacle-filled situations that you cannot avoid. In this case, running over squished fruit can also be thought of as an unwanted obstacle or hazard that is difficult to avoid, just as there may be unexpected challenges or hurdles in other aspects of life that seem to appear at unexpected times.

    • The farmers market was overrun with road apples today as a result of the heavy rain yesterday, making it difficult to navigate through the piles of crushed fruit on the ground.

      In this example, "road apples" is being used descriptively to convey the unpleasant sight and mess caused by flattened fruit on the ground after heavy rainfall. As a result, the farmers market becomes harder to navigate as customers have to avoid the slippery and squishy mess left behind.

    • The city council has proposed a new initiative to address the issue of road apples by implementing more frequent sweeping of the city streets and graffiti removal efforts to reduce littering and pollution.

      In this example, "road apples" is being used as a term for a particular type of urban litter, highlighting how seemingly small issues can accumulate and become a larger problem for cities to address. By implementing new initiatives to reduce littering and pollution, city councils can help to mitigate this issue and improve the overall cleanliness and safety of urban areas.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "road apples" can be used to refer to either horse manure or obstacles and challenges encountered along a journey.

    When used to describe horse manure, it is a humorous and lighthearted way to refer to the droppings left behind by horses on a road or path. It can also be used to describe obstacles and challenges encountered along a journey or path, emphasizing the difficulties and struggles faced while trying to reach a destination.

    This idiom can be used in both literal and figurative contexts, making it versatile in expressing the idea of obstacles or challenges in a journey.

    Origin of "Road apples"

    The origin of the idiom "road apples" dates back to the early 20th century, when horse-drawn carriages and wagons were a common mode of transportation. Horses were often used to pull these vehicles, and as a result, their droppings were a common sight on roads and paths. The term "road apples" was a humorous and informal way to refer to these droppings, likening them to the appearance of apples scattered along a road.

    Over time, the idiom evolved to also represent the obstacles and challenges encountered along a journey or path, drawing on the imagery of navigating through literal road apples to symbolize overcoming difficulties and struggles. The idiom has since become a colorful and expressive way to describe the hurdles faced in reaching a destination.