The idiom "sour grapes" is used to describe a situation where someone expresses a negative attitude towards something they cannot have or achieve. It comes from the fable of the fox and the grapes, where the fox couldn't reach the grapes and then said they were probably sour anyway.
For example, if someone is jealous of their friend's new car and says, "I don't even like that car, it's probably not that great anyway," they are exhibiting "sour grapes" behavior. They are trying to downplay the value of something they cannot have or achieve.
The idiom can also be used to describe situations where someone is trying to make themselves feel better about a disappointment or failure. For instance, if someone doesn't get a job they wanted and says, "I didn't really want that job anyway, it's not that great," they are exhibiting "sour grapes" behavior.
In short, "sour grapes" is used to describe someone who is being negative or dismissive about something they cannot have or achieve.
• She said that she didn't like the party, but I think it's just sour grapes because she wasn't invited.
• The politician dismissed the criticism as sour grapes from the opposition party.
• The politician dismissed his opponent's criticism as sour grapes, arguing that he was simply jealous of his success.
• I didn't get the job, but it's just sour grapes, I didn't really want it anyway.
• The losing team accused the winning team of cheating, but it was just sour grapes because they didn't play well.
• He criticized the book as boring, but I think it's just sour grapes because he couldn't write something better.
• Maria said that she didn't want to go to the party because she had other plans, but I think it's just sour grapes because she wasn't invited.
• The artist refused to attend the art exhibition, claiming that it was just sour grapes because his work was not selected.
• Despite receiving widespread praise for her performance in the film, the actress downplayed her achievement as mere luck, accusing others of sour grapes.
• As a renowned scholar in his field, Professor Smith was unfazed by the criticism of his peers and dismissed their objections as sour grapes.
• After losing the competition, John claimed that he didn't care about winning and called it sour grapes.
• I didn't get the job, but it's okay. It was probably sour grapes anyways.