PhrasesHub

Sour grapes

    Definitions

      • to disparage something that one desires but cannot have
        to belittle or criticize something that one is unable to attain or achieve, often out of envy or disappointment

      • rationalize
        to make excuses for one's own failures or shortcomings by devaluing the thing desired or sought after

    Examples of Sour grapes

    • After failing to get an invitation to the extravagant party, the woman exclaimed, "Frankly, I'm glad I wasn't invited. The food at those events is always overrated, and the host's guests are often knobs."

      In this example, the woman's complaints about the food and guests at the party are actually a form of sour grapes. By saying she's glad she wasn't invited, she's essentially admitting that she wanted to be there but couldn't handle not being included. Her criticisms of the food and guests are a way to make herself feel better and less jealous about not being included.

    • The team's captain, who had been struggling with their performance all season, suddenly began criticizing their opponents' tactics and strategies. He claimed that they were lucky to win and that their victories were undeserved.

      This is another case of sour grapes. The captain's harsh words about his opponents are actually a way for him to downplay his own team's failures and make them seem less significant. By criticizing the opponents, he can deflect attention away from his team's shortcomings and make it seem like they've been unlucky or cheated out of wins.

    • The actor, who had been passed over for a major role, announced that he was relieved not to have been chosen. He said that the part was too small for his talents and that he didn't want to be associated with such a minor production.

      Yet again, this is an example of sour grapes. By pretending that he's not disappointed about missing out on the role, the actor is actually trying to hide his jealousy and frustration. His comments about the size of the part and the quality of the production are a way to make himself feel better and less envious of the actor who did get the role.

    • The politician, who had been accused of accepting bribes, deflected attention away from the accusations by attacking his accusers. He called them jealous and vindictive and claimed that they were trying to destroy his career out of spite.

      This is a classic example of sour grapes. The politician's accusations against his accusers are actually a way to deflect attention away from his own wrongdoing. By portraying his accusers as jealous or vindictive, he can make himself seem like the victim and less culpable for the bribe allegations. It's a way to shift responsibility for his actions onto others and make himself look less guilty.

    • After failing to land a role in the popular play, actor John Doe dismissed its success, saying, "Frankly, I'm glad I wasn't chosen for the show. The script is mediocre, and the lead actress is overrated anyway."

      This is an example of the "sour grapes" idiom, where John Doe is trying to hide his disappointment and jealousy by making negative comments about something he couldn't have. The phrase "sour grapes" comes from Aesop's Fables, where a fox, unable to reach some grapes, decided they were sour anyway. This idiom is commonly used to describe situations where people criticize or belittle something out of envy or frustration.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "sour grapes" is used to describe the act of criticizing or devaluing something that one desires but cannot have. It can also be used to rationalize one's own failures or shortcomings by downplaying the importance or value of the desired object or outcome. This idiom is often used in the context of envy or disappointment, where someone may belittle something simply because they are unable to attain it.

    The term can be used in various situations, such as when someone is unable to achieve a goal and then criticizes the goal as being unimportant or unworthy. It can also be used when someone is envious of another person's success and then devalues that success as being unimpressive or undeserving.

    Origin of "Sour grapes"

    The idiom "sour grapes" originated from one of Aesop's fables, "The Fox and the Grapes." In the fable, a fox sees a bunch of grapes hanging from a vine and desires them, but is unable to reach them. After several failed attempts, the fox walks away, declaring that the grapes were probably sour anyway. The fable illustrates the concept of rationalization and the tendency to disparage something that is unattainable.

    The idiom has since become a popular expression in English, used to convey the idea of devaluing something out of envy or disappointment. It is often used in everyday language to describe the behavior of someone who is unable to attain a desired object or outcome and then criticizes it as being undesirable or unimportant.