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Explaining "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade"

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 07/10/2024, 14:21
English.me team member

What does it mean?

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade

The phrase means that when faced with a difficult or unfortunate situation, one should make the best of it and turn it into something positive.

Tone

Optimistic and encouraging

Origin

The phrase is believed to have originated in the early 20th century, popularized by Elbert Hubbard in 1915 and later popularized by Dale Carnegie in his 1948 book "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living".

Examples of usage

  • After losing her job, Jenna saw it as an opportunity to start her own business. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!
  • Even though the weather ruined their outdoor plans, they decided to enjoy a cozy day indoors instead. It's a classic case of when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

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