sour grapes examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sour grapes examples" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing situations where someone dismisses something they cannot have, often to protect their self-esteem. An example: "His comments about the award were just sour grapes examples, as he was clearly envious of the winner." Alternative expressions include "resentful remarks" and "jealous comments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The criticised governments are likely to reject the memo as an example of sour grapes from a country that has seen its Caribbean foe embraced by Africa, Latin America, Asia and increasingly the west.

The Guardian

But she rejects his claim that 3 May's referendum, which was triggered by a vote in council, is an example of "sour grapes" and "bad sportsmanship".

BBC

Is this a case of sour grapes?

Forbes

A case, perhaps, of sour grapes.

The Economist

How do we know that these examples aren't atypical cherries picked by a political theorist munching sour grapes?

The New York Times

Sour grapes?

Forbes

Or sour grapes.

The New York Times

Call it sour grapes.

The New York Times - Books

"Sour grapes," Belsky said.

The Guardian

It sounds like sour grapes.

Independent

Is this sour grapes?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the subject of your sentence has actually failed to achieve or acquire something before using the term. The idiom loses its punch if the criticism is valid rather than a result of frustration.

Common error

Do not use this phrase to describe any type of whining or unhappiness. It specifically requires a 'grapes are probably sour anyway' attitude where the person pretends they never wanted the thing they failed to get.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sour grapes examples" serves as a compound noun phrase used to categorize or request specific instances of the idiom in use. According to Ludwig, it functions as an informational tag, often appearing in educational or analytical contexts to illustrate how individuals rationalize failure by belittling the unattained goal.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

A review of the evidence from Ludwig AI shows that "sour grapes examples" are ubiquitous in professional journalism and political analysis. The idiom serves as a powerful rhetorical tool to undermine an opponent's credibility by attributing their criticism to resentment. Whether appearing in the The New York Times regarding tax bills or The Guardian concerning sports snubbing, the core meaning remains consistent: it is the act of disparaging something simply because it is out of reach. For writers, the phrase provides a concise way to describe complex psychological defense mechanisms, but it should be used with care to ensure the context of 'unattainability' is clearly established.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bitter grapes examples

Uses a similar fruit metaphor but is slightly less standard than the original idiom.

illustrations of sour grapes

More formal phrasing that emphasizes the visual or narrative representation of the concept.

sour grapes cases

Focuses on specific instances or occurrences rather than general illustrative samples.

instances of envious dismissal

Describes the underlying psychological action without using the idiomatic metaphor.

sore loser examples

Narrower in scope, focusing specifically on competition rather than any unattainable goal.

scenarios of sour grapes

Suggests hypothetical or situational contexts where the behavior might occur.

resentful behavior examples

A broader behavioral category that includes the specific attitude of sour grapes.

belittling unattainable goals

A literal description of the idiom's meaning, useful for technical or psychological analysis.

malice after defeat examples

Emphasizes the timing of the reaction, occurring specifically after a loss or failure.

examples of the fox and the grapes

Refers directly to the Aesop fable that originated the idiomatic expression.

FAQs

How to use "sour grapes" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a person's reaction to failure, such as saying, "His criticism of the company was just <a href="/s/sour+grapes" target="_blank" rel="alternative">sour grapes after he was passed over for the promotion".

What can I say instead of "sour grapes"?

Depending on the context, you might use phrases like "<a href="/s/envious+dismissal" target="_blank" rel="alternative">envious dismissal", "<a href="/s/bitter+complaints" target="_blank" rel="alternative">bitter complaints" or "<a href="/s/sore+loser" target="_blank" rel="alternative">sore loser".

What is the psychological meaning behind "sour grapes examples"?

These examples typically illustrate cognitive dissonance, where a person changes their attitude toward a desired object (e.g., "<a href="/s/pretending+to+dislike+something" target="_blank" rel="alternative">pretending to dislike something") to reduce the pain of not being able to have it.

Is it "sour grape" or "sour grapes"?

The idiom is almost always used in the plural form, "<a href="/s/sour+grapes" target="_blank" rel="alternative">sour grapes", reflecting the original fable where the fox could not reach a cluster of grapes.