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Sour grapes
01
a negative attitude or reaction toward something that one desires but cannot have or achieve, often by minimizing its importance or worth
Idiom
Informal
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Abstract
Composition
Compound
Uncountable
What is the origin of the idiom "sour grapes" and when to use it?
The idiom "sour grapes" comes from a fable named "The Fox and the Grapes." In the story, a fox couldn't reach some grapes and, feeling disappointed, claimed that the grapes were probably sour anyway. This phrase is used to describe someone who pretends to dislike or devalue something they desire but cannot have, often out of envy or frustration.
Examples
He said the promotion was not worth it, but it sounded like sour grapes.
