Meaning of ‘An Apple a Day Keeps The Doctor Away’
The phrase ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away‘ means that regularly eating an apple (or healthy foods in general) can improve one’s health, resulting in fewer trips to the doctor. Basically, the idea is that someone who eats healthier won’t need to go to the doctor as often as someone who eats unhealthy.
Example: Ashley asked her friend how she stayed so healthy. Her friend replied, ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away. I eat fruits and veggies, stay hydrated, and get enough sleep.’
Related Idioms:
Interested in exploring more idioms that start with the letter A? Check out our Idioms Starting With A page for a list of them.
Origin of ‘An Apple a Day Keeps The Doctor Away’
The origin of this saying is believed to be from Wales, a country in Great Britain. There is an earlier form of this expression that goes: ‘Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.” The first known appearance of this earlier form is from a publication known as Notes and Queries from the year 1866:
“Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.”
The later version of ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ that’s popular today looks like it took hold sometime during the early 20th century. The reason being is that the earliest I could find it in print is from The Country Gentleman, from 1913:
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
So in summary, this phrase is at least 153 years old.
Does Eating An Apple Daily Really Keep The Doctor Away?
This is a common idiom that many people are familiar with today, and some people wonder if eating an apple on the regular can actually keep the physician away. The answer? While eating an apple every day can have health benefits (for example, apples are a good source of fiber), even so, it does not make one immune to all health problems. Hence, it would be more accurate to say that this fruit, and eating healthier in general, can help keep the doctor away.
Related Phrases:
– Apple Of My Eye
There’s a basket full of idioms out there that are related to apples in some way, like this one. Check out the meaning of these and other phrases!