sour grapes
The phrase "sour grapes" originates from Aesop's fable "The Fox and the Grapes," where a fox, unable to reach some grapes, convinces itself they are sour and not worth having.
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Definition
B2Everyday Conversation
(idiomatic, informal)Criticism or disdain towards something because it is unattainable.
Example
- His comments about the award being unimportant are just sour grapes because he didn't win.
- She said the job was boring, but it sounded like sour grapes since she wasn't hired.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "sour grapes":