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Learn More American Expressions

bug juice

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Puzzle #216 · January 3, 2026
Bug Juice has two meanings dating to the late 1960’s. The first meaning is a term for Kool-Aid, a pre-sweetened, powdered drink mix. Kool-Aid featured Bugs Bunny in its early advertising and so the term Bug’s Juice or Bug Juice was another name for Kool Aid. It was also common for open containers of Kool Aid, at a picnic or summer camp, to attract bugs.

The second meaning of bug juice is the opposite of attracting bugs. During the Viet Nam war, the term bug juice was used for DEET-based mosquito repellant that soldier’s carried with them.
Puzzle Appearances

The expression bug juice has appeared in 1 puzzle:

  • Puzzle #216 on January 3, 2026
Rate of Appearance in English Language Print

Google's Ngram project shows how often a pair of words has appeared in print every year since the 1800's.

Data from Google Books Ngram Viewer. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

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