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sour grapes
plural noun
: disparagement of something that has proven unattainable
his criticisms are just sour grapes
Examples of sour grapes in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s no trace of the Hepburn-Streisand sour grapes saga.
—Tonya Blazio-Licorish, WWD, 27 Sep. 2024
But hopefully sour grapes will be the extent of Russia’s reactions.
—Bryan Walsh, Vox, 26 July 2024
California Civil rights history — in Orange County Dec. 3, 2010
Their rage might come off as historical sour grapes, but the Mendez et al fiasco touches on an important point.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2024
Mecole Hardman providing the juice, albeit squeezed from sour grapes.
—Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sour grapes
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Word History
Etymology
from the fable ascribed to Aesop of the fox who after finding himself unable to reach some grapes he had desired disparaged them as sour
First Known Use
1760, in the meaning defined above
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Dictionary Entries Near sour grapes
Cite this Entry
“Sour grapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sour%20grapes. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
sour grapes
plural noun
: the act of making something seem unimportant after it becomes impossible to gain
More from Merriam-Webster on sour grapes
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sour grapes
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