Sour grapes

[purification]

does anyone know the meaning/origin of the term "Sour Grapes"???

[purification]

Just wanted to clarify that I know about as much as that it is a variation of a bad loser but would appreciate knowing its origin....ta folkes!

[Quizmonster]

The idea comes form one of Aesop's fable in which a fox - who couldn't reach high enough to pluck grapes from a vine decided that they were probably sour anyway. In other words, it means that you try to "put something down" when you can't really get it anyway.

[Clanad]

I would add that the Old Testament book of , Jeremiah, which, I believe, pre-dates Aesop by perhaps 150 years, contains in Chapter 30, verses 29 and 30 the following:
" In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. "
Verse 29 refers to a time before Israel's restoration when the children of Israel were paying for the sins of their fathers. The father sins (eating sour grapes) and the children's teeth are set on edge or they pay the penalty.

At the time of the restoration of Israel or the millennium (verse 30), it states only those who sin will get the result of eating their own sour grapes (sin) and only their teeth will be set on edge...

[Quizmonster]

I can't see, Clanad, that the biblical story has very much at all to do with our modern usage of the phrase. That certainly involves disparaging something one would really be delighted to have if only one could, which is certainly Aesopian in origin. But what the hey!

[Clanad]

I can see your point Quizmonster, but purification's question involved origin and I don't see any restriction to only modern usage, in the query, hence my offering...

[Quizmonster]

As I said, C...what the hey?

[purification]

Thank you to both of you! You both helped me out alot, actually you both won me a total of �20 so if you ever want a drink buying you know where I am! lol

Cheers for that!!! x