grapes of wrath

: an unjust or oppressive situation, action, or policy that may inflame desire for vengeance : an explosive condition

will the grapes of wrath come to another harvest

—Stuart Chase

Word History

Etymology

from The Grapes of Wrath (1939), novel by John Steinbeck born 1902, American novelist, from the line "He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored", from The Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia W. Howe †1910 American writer and reformer

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