- Feeling or showing strong jealousy towards someone's possessions, success, or advantages.
Explanation
Origin
- The association of the color green with jealousy and ill-health dates back to ancient Greece. They believed jealousy produced excess bile, giving the skin a sickly greenish tint.
- William Shakespeare popularized the connection, notably in Othello where Iago warns Othello to beware, my lord, of jealousy; / It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock / The meat it feeds on.
- Green is often associated with sickness or biliousness, metaphorically linked to the sickness of envy.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Jelly (Playful, common online and among younger people)
- Salty (More about bitterness or resentment, often from losing or being slighted, but can overlap with envy)
- Major FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out envy of experiences)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Pissed that someone has something. (More anger than pure envy)
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to semi-formal.
- Generally understood but avoid in very formal contexts where expressing strong emotion like envy might be inappropriate.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The connection between green and envy is specific to this idiom and related concepts; learners shouldn't assume green always means envy.
Examples
- I was green with envy when I saw her new sports car.
- He admitted he was green with envy over his colleague's promotion.
- Look at their vacation photos! Makes you green with envy, doesn't it?
Dialogue
Liam: Did you see Maya's photos from her trip to Japan?
Chloe: Yes! Cherry blossoms, amazing food... I'm absolutely green with envy.
Liam: Me too. We really need to plan a proper vacation soon.
Social Media Examples
- Comment on travel post: OMG your hotel view! 😍 I'm green with envy right now! #travelgoals #jelly
- Tweet: My friend just got tickets to see Taylor Swift and I am officially green with envy. 😭 #Swiftie #ErasTour
Response Patterns
- Acknowledging the reason for envy: Yeah, that new car is amazing.
- Sharing the feeling: You're telling me! I wish that were me.
- Downplaying (if directed at oneself): Oh, it's not that great, really.
- Playful accusation: Someone sounds a bit green with envy!
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone says they are green with envy:
- Asking for details: What exactly are you envious of?
- Expressing understanding: I can see why, it's impressive.
After someone is described as green with envy:
- Asking for the story: Oh really? What happened?
Conversation Starter
- Can be, especially in reaction to news or seeing something desirable. Wow, look at that prize – makes you green with envy!
Intonation
- Emphasis usually on GREEN and ENVY.
- Can be said with genuine feeling or in a lighter, more exaggerated way. GREEN with ENVY.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood. Younger generations might also use jelly more frequently.
Regional Variations
- Common across all major English-speaking regions.