Sour grapes," as the fox said when he could not reach them.

Meaning: Dismissing something as worthless once you've failed to obtain it masks disappointment through false disdain.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

Translations

• Spanish: Así dijó la zorra á las uvas, no pudiendolas alcazar, que no estarvan maduras (literally: The grapes are sour, said the fox when he could not reach them)

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…