Dear Advisor,
My older sister never really liked me. I got married first, have two lovely
children, and have a great career. She has always struggled for money
and lived alone, but now she is finally getting married. I offered to lend
her my wedding dress. I know it will save her money that she can
otherwise use toward the wedding, and the dress is a perfect fit. She
said she always hated it and doesn’t need any help from me. She doesn’t
even want me to be the matron of honor. I’m really hurt. Should I
pursue this or just leave it alone?
-- Little Sis, Fairfax
Dear Little Sis,
It sounds like sour grapes to me. Since she can’t have what you have had,
she’s criticizing you. Just leave it alone and wait for her to come to you for help.
If she doesn’t, that’s her way of reaching her own independent success. Go to
the wedding as a guest and be happy for her.
Question:
What does the expression sour grapes mean? Can you use it
in a sentence?
The Fox and the Grapes
There was once a fox who saw a beautiful bunch of ripe purple grapes hanging
from a vine. The grapes were so fat they looked like they would burst with sweet
juice. The fox’s mouth watered as he gazed at the grapes.
The vine was trained to grow on the branch of a tall tree, so the fox
realized he would have to jump to reach the grapes. The first time he jumped, he
missed the grapes. The next time, he first walked back a short distance and then
with a run and jump tried to reach the grapes. He failed. He tried one more
jump, but he missed again.
Then he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust. “What a fool I am
trying to get that bunch of grapes. They’re probably sour, anyway,” said the fox,
belittling the grapes. Then he walked away with his nose in the air.
Aesop’s Fables