green with envy

Are you using the idiom green with envy but not sure about its meaning? Using idioms, which are important elements of spoken and written language, in the right place strengthens your language skills. Examine the meaning of the green with envy idiom and the situations in which it is used.

Meaning of "green with envy"

Meaning

The phrase "green with envy" is a common idiom that is used to describe someone who is feeling a strong sense of jealousy or envy towards someone else. It is often used in casual conversations and can be used to describe a wide range of emotions ranging from mild annoyance to intense envy.

Etymology

The phrase "green with envy" has its roots in ancient mythology. In Greek and Roman mythology, jealousy and envy were represented as a green-eyed monster. This monster was often described as being green with envy and over time, this phrase was adopted to describe someone who is feeling envious of others.

Usage

The phrase "green with envy" is most often used to describe a person's reaction when they are feeling jealous of someone else. It is often used in casual conversations, but can also be used in more formal contexts. For example, one might say "He was green with envy when I told him about my promotion," or "She was green with envy when she saw her friend's new car."

Example Sentences

• I could tell he was green with envy when he saw my new designer shoes.
• My brother was green with envy when I got the job with the company he wanted to work for.
• She was green with envy when I told her I had booked a trip to Europe.
• The other students were green with envy when I got the highest grade on the test.
• He was green with envy when he saw the new house his neighbor was building.

Idioms with similar meaning

"Don't judge a book by its cover" is an English idiom that means you shouldn't make assumptions about someone or something based solely on its appearance. In Japanese, the similar idiom is "Hana yori dango," which translates to "Dumplings rather than flowers." This idiom means that substance is more important than appearance.