forbidden fruit

English

Etymology

With reference to Genesis 2:17: ‘But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.’ (KJV)

Pronunciation

  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Noun

forbidden fruit (countable and uncountable, plural forbidden fruits)

  1. (biblical) The fruit forbidden to Adam.
  2. (idiomatic) Illicit pleasure.
  3. Something desired that cannot be had.
    She was forbidden fruit because she's his teacher. This taboo made him want her even more.
  4. A small variety of shaddock (Citrus maxima), or sometimes other citrus fruits.

Derived terms

Translations