ˌFox and the ˈGrapes, The BrE AmE
a ↑ fable (=a traditional short story that teaches a moral lesson) by Aesop in which a ↑ fox tries many times to reach some ↑ grape s that are hanging above his head. When he realizes that he will never be able to reach them, he pretends that he never wanted them, saying ‘They’re probably ↑ sour (=having an unpleasant acid taste) anyway’. This attitude is known as SOUR GRAPES .