負(ま)け惜(お)しみ

まけおしみ
noun
sour grapes; poor loser attitude; excuses
1. sour grapes; poor loser attitude
Making excuses or disparaging something after failing to obtain it; refusing to accept defeat gracefully.
それは負(ま)け惜(お)しみに聞(き)こえる。
That sounds like sour grapes.
負(ま)け惜(お)しみを言(い)うな。
Don't be a sore loser./Stop making excuses.
負(ま)け惜(お)しみかもしれないが、あの仕事(しごと)は自分(じぶん)に合(あ)わなかった。
It might be sour grapes, but that job wasn't right for me.
負(ま)け惜(お)しみが強(つよ)い人(ひと)は嫌(きら)われやすい。
People who are sore losers tend to be disliked.
「あの大学(だいがく)には最初(さいしょ)から行(い)きたくなかった」と言(い)うのは負(ま)け惜(お)しみだろう。
Saying "I never wanted to go to that university anyway" is probably just sour grapes.

Forms

負(ま)け (defeat) + 惜(お)しむ (to regret, grudge) → regretting defeat = sour grapes

Common expressions

Usage

Used when someone refuses to accept failure gracefully and instead makes excuses or criticizes what they couldn't get. Similar to the English "sour grapes" from Aesop's fable.

Similar words

  • 強(つよ)がり - putting on a brave face (hiding vulnerability)
  • 負(ま)け惜(お)しみ - sour grapes (making excuses for failure)

Related Words

Related: 強(つよ)がり (bravado)
core
Added 2026.1.19 13:09 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07000/07308_makeoshimi