Meanings
From Aesop's fable The Fox and the Grapes, in which a fox, unable to reach grapes it is seeking, convinces itself that they must have been unripe (therefore, sour) all along and so not worth trying for in the first place.
How to pronounce "sour grapes":
AU
Grapes that have an acidic taste, usually because they are unripe.
Things that somebody pretends to despise because they cannot obtain or have them.
A putting down or expression of disdain about something that one desires but cannot have.
Example: "I think his comments about that new car are just sour grapes because he can't afford it."
Example Sentences
1
After failing to make the team, John called it sour grapes and said he never wanted to be part of it anyway.
2
When Sarah's friend won the lottery, she claimed it was all luck and just sour grapes.
3
Tommy said he didn't want the promotion because the job would require too much travel, but it seemed like sour grapes.
4
Instead of congratulating his sister on her success, Mark made sour grapes remarks about her lucky break.
5
The CEO dismissed the criticism from the rival company as sour grapes because they were losing in the market.
