Sour Grapes

The phrase "sour grapes" [use double quotes for phrases and single quotes for single words"] is originates from <em>The Fox and the Grapes</em>, [This is the newer style for titles and names] one of the stories of ' an Aesop's fables'. The story is that tells of a thirsty fox seeing some grapes high upon a the vine tree. He tried many times to get them, but with no success. At last he had to give up, walked away with his nose in the air, and said saying: "I am sure they are sour."

It is not good to show pretended disdain for something one cannot have. But However, [don't start a sentence with "but", "or", "and".  These conjunctions should appear in the middle of a sentence.  However, there are exceptions such as in writing dialog] we can evaluate the fox's behavior in a different way. In spite of failure, he walked away with his nose in the air, and not dropped drooping his shoulders*. His ego must have been hurt but he built up his self esteem. [You miss the point. He failed.  If he did not want it and didn't get it, it would be ok and not called "sour grapes" The fact is that that something was wanted in the first place.]

Let's assume your ex girl friend has a striking good looks, and you are married now. Then you must say to yourself, "I'm sure that she is not more beautiful than my wife. My wife is the most beautiful woman in the world." Is it this full of sour grapes? Yes it is, unless your wife is really more beautiful than the ex-girl friend in your eyes.  This is a question you only can honestly answer yourself.  If not, only it is sour grapes, but also diplomacy and tact!  What happens if the wife finds out that you married her because you couldn't get the ex?

* In Korea, there is a phrase: [One disappointed person] walking with his nose on the ground.