Sour grapes
English Idiom
Meaning: When someone disparages something they cannot have, they belittle it to make themselves feel better. This behavior is often a defense mechanism to cope with disappointment.
Origin: The idiom 'sour grapes' originates from Aesop's fable 'The Fox and the Grapes.' In the story, a fox tries to reach a bunch of grapes hanging high on a vine. After several failed attempts, the fox gives up and walks away, muttering that the grapes were probably sour anyway. This tale perfectly illustrates the human tendency to devalue what one cannot attain.
Examples
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After failing to secure the promotion, Sarah dismissed the job as unimportant, a classic case of sour grapes.
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When John couldn't afford the luxury car he wanted, he called it overrated and unreliable, clearly sour grapes.
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Rebecca didn't get invited to the exclusive party and later claimed it would have been boring anyway, showing sour grapes.
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Mark criticized the high-end restaurant he couldn't get a reservation at as pretentious, exhibiting sour grapes.
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Losing the art competition, Emily said the judges had poor taste, an obvious instance of sour grapes.
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When he wasn't selected for the lead role, Tom said the play was bound to be a flop, showing sour grapes.
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Denise scoffed at the designer dress she couldn't buy, saying it looked cheap, a sure sign of sour grapes.
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After failing to qualify for the marathon, Jason remarked that running long distances was unhealthy, demonstrating sour grapes.
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When she didn't win the scholarship, Lily said the university was overrated, an example of sour grapes.
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Unable to get into the trendy club, Mike called it overrated and full of snobs, revealing his sour grapes.