What does ‘sour grapes’ mean?
To “sour grapes” means to pretending to disdain something you actually wanted. Brewer's cites the Aesop fable of the fox who, unable to reach the grapes, declares them sour.
Origin
- Brewer's cites the Aesop fable of the fox who, unable to reach the grapes, declares them sour.
How to use it
- Common accusation of jealousy dressed up as scorn.
- Example: His criticism of the award is just sour grapes.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.