“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
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
Where it comes from
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
- 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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