sour grapes
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see sour, grapesUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see sour, grapes.
Meaning
3 senses(plural, plural only)Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see sour, grapes.
saure Traube, unreife Traube, Herling
ки́слый виногра́дkíslyj vinográd
(idiomatic, plural, plural only)Things that somebody pretends to despise because they cannot obtain or have them.
(idiomatic, plural, plural only)A putting down or expression of disdain about something that one desires but cannot have.
I think his comments about that new car are just sour grapes because he can't afford it.
зе́лен виногра́дzélen vinográd, за́вистьzávistʹ, притво́рное равноду́шиеpritvórnoje ravnodúšije
- disparagement of something that is unattainable
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 1
Origin
From Aesop's fable The Fox and the Grapes, in which a fox, unable to reach grapes it is seFrom Aesop's fable The Fox and the Grapes, in which a fox, unable to reach grapes it is seeking, convinces itself that they must have been unripe (therefore, sour) all along and so not worth trying for in the first place.
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Forms
plural: sour grapeses| Singular | sour grapes |
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| Plural | sour grapeses |
regular