Home › Idioms

sour grapes

Meaning: A situation where a person criticizes something or someone out of jealousy.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Category: Daily Life

Origin: The expression originates from Aesop's fable about a fox that wanted some grapes from a vine but was unable to jump high enough to get them. In disgust, he claimed that they weren't worth having anyway because they were probably sour.

More idioms — Daily Life

  • speak one's mind — To tell someone how one feels or what one thinks.
  • speak one's piece — To tell someone how one feels or what one thinks.
  • spitting image — An exact likeness.
  • split hairs — To argue about some detail that is not important.
  • spring something on someone — To surprise someone with something.
  • on the spur of the moment — Suddenly or spontaneously; without advance planning.

More English idioms

  • sow one's wild oats — To do foolish or wild things, usually as a youth.
  • speak of the devil — An expression used when someone who is being talked about has just appeared.
  • square deal — A fair arrangement, fair treatment, or a fair price.
  • stand one's ground — To be firm in one's resolve or not to alter one's position (sentence 1); not to give up a…
  • stand out in a crowd — To be distinguishable from others in a group; distinctive.
  • start something from scratch — To start from the very beginning; to start from the very first step.

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…