Brewer's: Sour Grapeism

An assumed contempt or indifference to the unattainable. (See above.)

“There, economy was always `elegant' and money-spending always `vulgar' and ostentalous- a sort of sour grapeism which made us very peaceful and satisfied.” —Mrs. Gaskell: Cranford, chap. i.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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