sour mood

USAGE SUMMARY

'sour mood' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's bad or irritable mood. For example, "He was in a sour mood after finding out he got the lowest grade in the class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Once again don't do it when they are in a sour mood, wait until a good moment.

WikiHow

THERE is a palpably sour mood in France these days.

The Economist

The sour mood has offered "yes" advocates a golden opportunity.

The Washington Post

And so on.Slow economic growth is the biggest reason for the voters' sour mood.

The Economist

That evening, Mr. Bryant's sour mood seemed to lift, and they began talking.

The New York Times

The fictional musicians' entrenched cynicism neatly echoed my own sour mood regarding their craft.

The New York Times - Books

The current sour mood is not just caused by high unemployment.

The New York Times

But Reagan knew that his frontrunning candidacy was tottering, and he was in a sour mood.

The Washington Post

But in declining to participate, Google left a sour mood in the Capitol.

The New York Times - Tech

Incumbents and challengers nationwide are trying to accommodate this sour mood.

The New York Times

"There is a sour mood," says Michael Shifter, a director of the Inter-American Dialogue policy forum in Washington.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's general demeanor, "sour mood" can be used to highlight a temporary state of negativity. If the negativity is more persistent, consider alternatives like "grumpy disposition" or "pessimistic outlook".

Common error

Avoid using "sour mood" to characterize someone's permanent personality. It's better suited for describing a transient emotional state rather than a fixed characteristic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sour mood" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "sour" modifies the noun "mood". According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently used. It describes a temporary state of unhappiness or negativity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

2%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sour mood" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe a state of unhappiness or irritability. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent usage across various contexts, primarily in news and media. While generally neutral in register, its specific meaning can vary slightly depending on the context. When using "sour mood", it's important to consider whether it accurately reflects a temporary emotional state rather than an enduring personality trait. Alternatives such as "bad temper" or "negative frame of mind" may be more appropriate depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

irritable state

Replaces 'sour' with 'irritable' and 'mood' with 'state', focusing on the characteristic of being easily annoyed.

grumpy attitude

Replaces 'mood' with 'attitude', and describes a sullen or sulky disposition.

bad temper

Replaces the more general 'mood' with 'temper', indicating a tendency to become easily angered.

disgruntled state

Suggests dissatisfaction and resentment.

negative frame of mind

Uses a more formal and psychological term to describe a negative outlook.

unhappy disposition

Shifts the focus to an overall tendency to be unhappy, suggesting a more ingrained trait.

melancholy feeling

Focuses on a reflective and pensive sadness.

gloomy outlook

Focuses on a pessimistic perspective rather than a transient emotion.

unpleasant humor

Uses 'humor' to describe a temporary state of mind, focusing on the disagreeable nature.

downcast spirit

Implies a loss of hope or enthusiasm.

FAQs

How can I describe a "sour mood" in simpler terms?

You can use phrases such as "bad mood", /s/wrong+mood target="_blank" rel="nofollow">wrong mood, or /s/ugly+mood target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ugly mood to express a similar feeling.

What is the difference between "sour mood" and "sour attitude"?

"Sour mood" refers to a temporary state of unhappiness or irritability, while /s/sour+attitude target="_blank" rel="nofollow">sour attitude implies a more persistent and ingrained negativity in one's disposition.

Can "sour mood" be used to describe a situation or only a person?

"Sour mood" primarily describes a person's emotional state, but it can also metaphorically describe a situation that evokes negative feelings, for example: "The economic downturn cast a sour mood over the entire country".

What are some formal alternatives to "sour mood"?

Formal alternatives include "negative frame of mind", "unhappy disposition", or "disgruntled state". These phrases are suitable for professional or academic writing.