Red Herrings & White Elephants by Albert Jack

October 6th 2004


Sour Grapes

Sour Grapes is a phrase we use to describe someone who is sulking or jealous of not having something others have. This stems from a simple and popular 6th century fable of Aesop's called 'The Fox and The Grapes', in which the fox spends a long time trying to reach a bunch of grapes high on the vine, but eventually fails. The fox then comforts himself by explaining he didn't really want them after all, as they look sour.