Envy is a universal emotion, yet it often goes unspoken — until you use idioms for envy that bring it to the forefront.
From “biting the hand that feeds you” to “the grass is always greener,” these expressions capture the nuances of jealousy in a way that mere words cannot.
By exploring this topic, you’ll not only expand your linguistic repertoire but also gain a better understanding of how envy shapes our interactions.
Join us as we unpack these vivid idioms and learn to articulate that all-too-familiar feeling.
✅ The 25 Idioms for Envy
1. Green with envy
The meaning: Feeling very jealous or envious of someone.
Origin: The color green has long been associated with jealousy and sickness since Shakespeare’s time.
In a sentence:
- She was green with envy when she saw her friend’s new car.
- He turned green with envy after hearing about the promotion.
- They were green with envy over their neighbor’s vacation.
Other Ways to Say:
- Jealous
- Envious
- Covetous
2. Eat your heart out
The meaning: To feel intense jealousy or longing for something someone else has.
Origin: Possibly derived from the intense emotional pain of envy or desire.
In a sentence:
- With that new watch, you can eat your heart out.
- She bought the designer shoes and told her friends to eat their hearts out.
- He’s got the best job in town—eat your heart out!
Other Ways to Say:
- Be jealous
- Feel resentful
- Long for
3. The grass is always greener on the other side
The meaning: People tend to think others have it better, even if that’s not true.
Origin: Ancient proverb illustrating the human tendency to envy others.
In a sentence:
- Don’t be unhappy with your job; the grass is always greener on the other side.
- She wanted to switch schools, but remembered the grass is always greener on the other side.
- He envied his friend’s life but soon realized the grass isn’t always greener.
Other Ways to Say:
- Looking over the fence
- Wishful thinking
- Coveting others’ lives
4. Keep up with the Joneses
The meaning: Trying to match the lifestyle or possessions of neighbors or peers out of envy.
Origin: Early 20th-century phrase referencing a typical American family, the Joneses.
In a sentence:
- They bought a bigger house just to keep up with the Joneses.
- Don’t feel pressured to keep up with the Joneses.
- She works overtime to keep up with the Joneses in her neighborhood.
Other Ways to Say:
- Keeping pace
- Keeping up appearances
- Keeping in step
5. Sour grapes
The meaning: Pretending to dislike something one cannot have.
Origin: From Aesop’s fable “The Fox and the Grapes,” where the fox despises grapes he cannot reach.
In a sentence:
- He said he didn’t want the job anyway, but it sounded like sour grapes.
- Her comments about the award were just sour grapes after she lost.
- Don’t show sour grapes just because you didn’t get the promotion.
Other Ways to Say:
- Bitter disappointment
- Jealous denial
- False indifference
6. Covetous eyes
The meaning: Looking at something with strong desire or envy.
Origin: Biblical term describing intense longing.
In a sentence:
- He cast covetous eyes on his colleague’s success.
- Her covetous eyes lingered on the designer handbag.
- The covetous eyes of the crowd watched the celebrity’s every move.
Other Ways to Say:
- Envious gaze
- Desirous look
- Longing glance
7. Jealous streak
The meaning: A tendency to feel jealous.
Origin: Refers to a “streak” as a characteristic trait.
In a sentence:
- She has a jealous streak when it comes to her friends’ achievements.
- His jealous streak sometimes causes problems in relationships.
- Be careful not to let your jealous streak control your actions.
Other Ways to Say:
- Jealous nature
- Envy tendency
- Possessive trait
8. Eye candy envy
The meaning: Jealousy caused by admiring someone or something attractive.
Origin: Modern slang combining “eye candy” (something visually attractive) and envy.
In a sentence:
- She felt eye candy envy seeing her rival’s new dress.
- His eye candy envy was obvious when he saw the luxury car.
- Don’t let eye candy envy distract you from your own goals.
Other Ways to Say:
- Visual jealousy
- Attractive envy
- Admiration envy
9. Bitter pill
The meaning: Something difficult to accept, often related to envy or disappointment.
Origin: A metaphor for unpleasant medicine.
In a sentence:
- It was a bitter pill for him to see his friend succeed first.
- Losing the competition was a bitter pill to swallow.
- She had to accept the bitter pill of being passed over for promotion.
Other Ways to Say:
- Hard truth
- Unpleasant fact
- Disappointing reality
10. Having a chip on one’s shoulder
The meaning: Holding a grudge or feeling resentful, often from envy.
Origin: 19th-century American expression related to carrying a chip of wood as a challenge.
In a sentence:
- He has a chip on his shoulder about not getting the promotion.
- She’s had a chip on her shoulder since her colleague got the award.
- Don’t take it personally; he just has a chip on his shoulder.
Other Ways to Say:
- Resentful attitude
- Grudge
- Bitterness
11. Sour grapes
The meaning: Disparaging something that one cannot have, often due to envy.
Origin: From Aesop’s fable “The Fox and the Grapes.”
In a sentence:
- He claimed he didn’t want the job anyway, but it sounded like sour grapes.
- Her criticism was just sour grapes after she lost the contest.
- Don’t show sour grapes if you didn’t get invited.
Other Ways to Say:
- Bitter denial
- Jealous dismissal
- False disinterest
12. Green-eyed monster
The meaning: Jealousy personified as a monster.
Origin: Coined by Shakespeare in “Othello.”
In a sentence:
- The green-eyed monster reared its head when she saw her friend’s success.
- He fought the green-eyed monster after his promotion was overlooked.
- Don’t let the green-eyed monster control your thoughts.
Other Ways to Say:
- Jealousy
- Envy
- Resentment
13. Cry over spilled milk
The meaning: To be upset about something that cannot be changed, sometimes due to envy.
Origin: Old English proverb.
In a sentence:
- It’s no use crying over spilled milk about the promotion you didn’t get.
- She stopped crying over spilled milk and focused on her own progress.
- Don’t cry over spilled milk—focus on what you can change.
Other Ways to Say:
- Let it go
- Move on
- Don’t dwell
14. Keep someone at arm’s length
The meaning: To avoid close contact due to distrust or envy.
Origin: Phrase meaning to keep a physical or emotional distance.
In a sentence:
- He kept his colleague at arm’s length out of jealousy.
- She keeps people at arm’s length to avoid envy or conflict.
- Don’t keep your friends at arm’s length; it creates distance.
Other Ways to Say:
- Keep distant
- Avoid closeness
- Maintain distance
15. Sour grapes
The meaning: To pretend to dislike something because you can’t have it.
Origin: From Aesop’s fable about the fox and grapes.
In a sentence:
- She said she didn’t want the promotion, but it sounded like sour grapes.
- His sour grapes were obvious after he lost the game.
- Don’t act with sour grapes just because you didn’t get invited.
Other Ways to Say:
- Bitter disappointment
- Jealous denial
- False indifference
16. Eye of the tiger
The meaning: A fierce look of determination often driven by envy or competition.
Origin: Popularized by the song “Eye of the Tiger” symbolizing fierce focus.
In a sentence:
- She had the eye of the tiger during the competition.
- His eye of the tiger showed his envy for the championship.
- The team played with the eye of the tiger to win the game.
Other Ways to Say:
- Determined look
- Fierce focus
- Competitive spirit
17. Choke with envy
The meaning: To feel overwhelming jealousy.
Origin: Figurative expression describing the suffocating feeling of envy.
In a sentence:
- He was choking with envy when his friend got the award.
- She choked with envy seeing her rival’s success.
- Don’t choke with envy; focus on your own achievements.
Other Ways to Say:
- Overcome with jealousy
- Seething with envy
- Consumed by jealousy
18. Feather your own nest
The meaning: To enrich oneself often at the expense of others, causing envy.
Origin: Refers to birds lining their nests with feathers for comfort.
In a sentence:
- He was accused of feathering his own nest during the project.
- She’s always trying to feather her own nest.
- The employees envied how the boss feathered his own nest.
Other Ways to Say:
- Self-enrich
- Profit unfairly
- Look out for number one
19. Pay through the nose
The meaning: To pay an excessive price, sometimes out of envy or desperation.
Origin: Origin unclear, possibly from heavy taxation in old times.
In a sentence:
- They had to pay through the nose for those concert tickets.
- He paid through the nose to keep up appearances.
- Don’t pay through the nose just because of envy.
Other Ways to Say:
- Overpay
- Pay dearly
- Spend excessively
20. Look through green glasses
The meaning: To see things with envy or jealousy.
Origin: Derived from “green with envy” and metaphorical vision.
In a sentence:
- He looked through green glasses when his friend got the promotion.
- Don’t look through green glasses; appreciate what you have.
- She tends to look through green glasses when others succeed.
Other Ways to Say:
- See with envy
- Jealous perspective
- Envious outlook
21. Eyeing someone up
The meaning: Looking at someone with envy or desire.
Origin: Informal phrase meaning to observe closely.
In a sentence:
- She was eyeing up her coworker’s new gadget.
- He kept eyeing up his neighbor’s fancy car.
- Don’t just keep eyeing up others’ success; work for your own.
Other Ways to Say:
- Admiring
- Watching closely
- Looking enviously
22. In someone’s shadow
The meaning: To be overshadowed by someone more successful, causing envy.
Origin: Metaphorical expression of being in the shade or overshadowed.
In a sentence:
- He always felt in his brother’s shadow.
- Living in her sister’s shadow made her jealous.
- Don’t live in anyone’s shadow; shine in your own right.
Other Ways to Say:
- Overshadowed
- Outshined
- Less noticed
23. Sour face
The meaning: A facial expression showing jealousy or displeasure.
Origin: Describes a sour or unhappy look.
In a sentence:
- He wore a sour face when his friend won the prize.
- Her sour face showed she was envious of the attention.
- Don’t make a sour face just because you didn’t get invited.
Other Ways to Say:
- Displeased look
- Jealous expression
- Unhappy face
24. Eye of envy
The meaning: The feeling or look of jealousy.
Origin: Derived from combining “eye” as a symbol of observation and envy.
In a sentence:
- She looked at the award with the eye of envy.
- The eye of envy was clear on his face.
- Don’t let the eye of envy ruin your happiness.
Other Ways to Say:
- Jealous gaze
- Envious look
- Resentful stare
25. Bitterness bites
The meaning: Resentment or jealousy causes emotional pain.
Origin: Figurative phrase linking bitterness with a painful bite.
In a sentence:
- Her bitterness bites every time she sees her friend’s success.
- Don’t let bitterness bite and spoil your relationships.
- He couldn’t hide how bitterness bites after losing the award.
Other Ways to Say:
- Jealous resentment
- Emotional pain
- Rancor
✅ 10 Practice Exercises on Idioms for Envy (Fill in the Blanks)
Fill in the blanks with the correct idioms from the list above:
- She was __________ when she saw her friend’s new house.
- He told his brother to __________ after he won the prize.
- People often think the grass is __________.
- They always try to __________ by buying expensive items.
- He showed __________ when he couldn’t get the promotion.
- Don’t __________ just because you missed the opportunity.
- She felt __________ watching her rival succeed.
- He has a __________ about his colleague’s success.
- Living in your sibling’s __________ can be tough.
- Her __________ showed on her face after losing the contest.
Answer Key
- green with envy
- eat your heart out
- always greener on the other side
- keep up with the Joneses
- chip on one’s shoulder
- cry over spilled milk
- choke with envy
- jealous streak
- shadow
- sour face
Idioms for Envy (Summary)
Now that you’ve learned these idioms for envy, try using them in everyday conversations and writing.
The more you practice, the more natural they’ll become.
Keep exploring new idioms to level up your fluency and sound more like a native speaker.
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