"Road apples" is a colloquial term primarily used in North America to refer to horse manure found on roads or trails. The term is often used humorously or informally, reflecting the natural byproduct of horses that may be ridden or driven along public paths. In addition to its literal meaning, "road apples" can also symbolize something unwanted or messy. The phrase is sometimes used metaphorically in discussions about politics or social issues, where it describes situations or comments that are considered unproductive or nonsensical, similar to how one might view actual manure on a road.