词源趣谈 | sour grapes 酸葡萄

sour grapes 指因自己无法拥有而加以贬低的“酸葡萄”心理。比如:

  • He said he didn't want the job anyway, but that's just sour grapes.
    他说反正他并不想干这份工作,这不过是吃不着葡萄就说葡萄酸而已。

这一表达的产生与伊索寓言《狐狸和葡萄》(The Fox and the Grapes有关。一只狐狸对着葡萄垂涎三尺,但葡萄长得太高,它无法够到,为了掩饰其失望之情,狐狸自言自语说,那些葡萄可能是酸的。