- Criticizing or disparaging something because one cannot have it or achieve it oneself.
- Pretending to dislike something you secretly want but can't get.
Explanation
Origin
- Comes from Aesop's Fable The Fox and the Grapes (around 6th century BCE).
- In the fable, a fox tries repeatedly to reach some delicious-looking grapes hanging high on a vine but fails.
- To console himself and save face, he walks away muttering that the grapes were probably sour anyway and not worth having.
- The phrase sour grapes refers to this attitude of feigned indifference or contempt for something unattainable.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Salty (Modern slang for being upset, angry, or bitter, often due to losing or envy)
- Butthurt (Vulgar slang for being overly offended or resentful)
- Hater / Hating on it (Slang for someone who expresses negativity, often out of jealousy)
- Jelly (Slang shortening of 'jealous')
Milder/Standard:
- Jealous / Envious
- Resentful
- Bitter
- Rationalizing
- Making excuses
More Formal:
- Attributing negative qualities due to unattainability.
- Expressing resentment born of envy.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to neutral.
- Can be used in most conversational contexts.
- Accusing someone directly of sour grapes can be confrontational, similar to accusing them of jealousy. Use with caution.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Learners need to understand the context of the fable – it's not about literal sour fruit but about pretending to dislike something desired but unattainable.
Examples
- He said he didn't want the promotion anyway, but it just sounded like sour grapes because he didn't get it.
- Her comments about the prize winner seemed like sour grapes.
- Dismissing their success as 'luck' is just sour grapes.
Dialogue
Eva: Did you hear Leo complaining about Sarah's new car? He said the color was awful and it probably guzzles gas.
Mike: Really? Wasn't he trying to buy that exact same model last month but couldn't get the financing?
Eva: Exactly! Sounds like sour grapes to me.
Mike: Definitely. He's just jealous.
Social Media Examples
- Comment: All the people hating on the award winner clearly just have sour grapes because their favorite didn't win. #awards #sourgrapes
- Tweet: He claims he never wanted to join the club anyway after they rejected his application. Classic sour grapes.
- Forum Post: Is it sour grapes, or do I have a valid criticism of [popular product]? I couldn't afford it, but I also think it's overrated because...
Response Patterns
This is usually an accusation or observation about someone's attitude.
If accused of sour grapes:
- Denial: No, it's not! I genuinely don't want it/think that.
- Defensiveness: Why would you say that?
- Acknowledgment (rare): Maybe you're right.
If discussing someone else's perceived sour grapes:
- Agreement: Yeah, I thought so too. / Totally.
- Disagreement/Defense of the person: I don't know, maybe they really feel that way.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After suggesting someone's attitude is sour grapes:
- Providing reasons for the suspicion: Well, they were trying really hard to get it before...
- Discussing the person's disappointment or jealousy.
After being accused of sour grapes:
- Trying to justify one's stated opinion.
- Changing the subject.
Conversation Starter
- No.
- Used to interpret or label someone's negative comments about something they desire but cannot obtain.
Intonation
- Stress usually on sour and grapes.
- Often said with a dismissive, knowing, or slightly critical tone towards the person exhibiting the attitude.
- That sounds like SOUR GRAPES to me.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood across generations due to its origin in a classic fable.
Regional Variations
- Common across all major English-speaking regions.