Idioms are vibrant expressions that add flair to our language, often conveying complex emotions like jealousy in vivid, imaginative ways. Unlike literal phrases, idioms capture feelings and situations with a creative twist, making conversations more engaging and relatable. For anyone looking to understand or express the green-eyed monster of jealousy, these idioms offer a colorful way to describe envy, rivalry, and longing. They’re especially useful in everyday life, from casual chats with friends to writing compelling stories or essays. Jealousy-related idioms can help you articulate those moments of envy or competition with wit and precision, while also deepening your understanding of human emotions. In this blog post, we’ll explore 45 idioms about jealousy, their meanings, and how to use them in sentences. Plus, we’ve included a practical exercise to help you master these phrases and make them part of your vocabulary. Let’s dive into the world of jealousy idioms and uncover the colorful ways we express this powerful emotion!
Idioms for Jealousy
1. Green with envy
Meaning: Feeling intense jealousy or envy.
In a Sentence: When she saw her best friend’s brand-new designer bag, she was absolutely green with envy and couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Other Ways to Say: Jealous as can be, Envious to the core
2. The green-eyed monster
Meaning: A personification of jealousy, often consuming and destructive.
In a Sentence: The green-eyed monster reared its ugly head when he noticed his rival getting all the attention at the talent show.
Other Ways to Say: Envy’s grip, Jealousy’s sting
3. Eat your heart out
Meaning: To feel extreme envy or longing for something someone else has.
In a Sentence: She posted her vacation photos online, hoping to make her ex eat his heart out over her amazing trip.
Other Ways to Say: Wish you had this, Be jealous
4. Covet someone’s thunder
Meaning: To be jealous of someone else’s success or attention.
In a Sentence: He was secretly coveting her thunder when she won the award for best student, wishing he’d gotten the spotlight instead.
Other Ways to Say: Steal the limelight, Envy the spotlight
5. Burn with jealousy
Meaning: To feel intense, fiery envy toward someone.
In a Sentence: Seeing her cousin drive a shiny new car made her burn with jealousy, as she still rode the bus every day.
Other Ways to Say: Seethe with envy, Boil with jealousy
6. Have a chip on your shoulder
Meaning: To hold a grudge or feel resentment, often due to perceived unfairness or jealousy.
In a Sentence: Ever since his coworker got promoted, he’s had a chip on his shoulder, feeling he deserved the position more.
Other Ways to Say: Hold a grudge, Feel resentful
7. Keep up with the Joneses
Meaning: To strive to match or surpass someone else’s lifestyle or possessions out of envy.
In a Sentence: They bought a huge house just to keep up with the Joneses, even though they couldn’t really afford it.
Other Ways to Say: Match the neighbors, Compete with others
8. Sour grapes
Meaning: Pretending to dislike something you secretly want because you can’t have it.
In a Sentence: She called the concert lame, but it was just sour grapes because she couldn’t get tickets.
Other Ways to Say: Fake disdain, Pretend indifference
9. Green around the gills
Meaning: Looking sick or upset, often due to jealousy or envy.
In a Sentence: He was green around the gills when his friend showed off his new gaming console at the party.
Other Ways to Say: Sick with envy, Pale with jealousy
10. Begrudge someone’s success
Meaning: To feel resentment or envy over someone’s achievements.
In a Sentence: She couldn’t help but begrudge her classmate’s success when he aced the exam she failed.
Other Ways to Say: Resent their win, Envy their triumph
11. Cast an envious eye
Meaning: To look at something with jealousy or longing.
In a Sentence: She cast an envious eye at her friend’s sparkling engagement ring during the lunch date.
Other Ways to Say: Eye with envy, Glance jealously
12. Die of envy
Meaning: To feel extreme jealousy, as if it’s overwhelming.
In a Sentence: Watching her neighbor drive off in a luxury sports car made her feel like she could die of envy.
Other Ways to Say: Overwhelmed with jealousy, Consumed by envy
13. Envy eats you up
Meaning: Jealousy that consumes or torments you emotionally.
In a Sentence: Envy was eating her up inside as she watched her sister get praised for her artwork.
Other Ways to Say: Jealousy consumes you, Envy gnaws at you
14. Have your nose out of joint
Meaning: To feel upset or envious because you’ve been overlooked or slighted.
In a Sentence: His nose was out of joint when his teammate was chosen as captain instead of him.
Other Ways to Say: Feel slighted, Be put out
15. Grudge someone’s good fortune
Meaning: To feel bitter or resentful about someone else’s luck or success.
In a Sentence: He grudged his brother’s good fortune after he won the lottery and bought a new house.
Other Ways to Say: Resent their luck, Begrudge their blessings
16. Turn green with envy
Meaning: To become visibly jealous or envious.
In a Sentence: She turned green with envy when her coworker got the promotion she’d been working hard for.
Other Ways to Say: Become jealous, Seethe with envy
17. Covet someone’s place
Meaning: To desire someone else’s position or role out of jealousy.
In a Sentence: He secretly coveted his friend’s place as the lead guitarist in the band.
Other Ways to Say: Want their spot, Envy their role
18. Green with resentment
Meaning: Feeling bitter jealousy or resentment.
In a Sentence: She was green with resentment when her classmate was praised for the group project she did most of the work on.
Other Ways to Say: Bitter with envy, Resentful and jealous
19. Eat your liver
Meaning: To feel intense, consuming jealousy (less common, regional).
In a Sentence: Seeing her rival win the dance competition made her feel like she was eating her liver with jealousy.
Other Ways to Say: Burn with envy, Seethe with jealousy
20. Sick with envy
Meaning: Feeling so jealous it makes you feel ill.
In a Sentence: He was sick with envy watching his friend show off their new smartphone at school.
Other Ways to Say: Ill with jealousy, Nauseated by envy
21. Envy’s bite
Meaning: The sharp, painful feeling of jealousy.
In a Sentence: Envy’s bite hit her hard when she saw her ex with a new partner at the mall.
Other Ways to Say: Sting of jealousy, Pain of envy
22. Look daggers at
Meaning: To glare at someone with jealousy or anger.
In a Sentence: She looked daggers at her coworker who got the praise she felt she deserved.
Other Ways to Say: Glare enviously, Shoot jealous looks
23. Covet someone’s crown
Meaning: To be jealous of someone’s position of power or success.
In a Sentence: He coveted his boss’s crown, dreaming of taking over the manager’s role someday.
Other Ways to Say: Want their throne, Envy their power
24. Pangs of jealousy
Meaning: Sharp, sudden feelings of envy.
In a Sentence: Pangs of jealousy struck her when she saw her friend’s new wardrobe on social media.
Other Ways to Say: Twinges of envy, Stabs of jealousy
25. Green-eyed
Meaning: Characterized by jealousy or envy.
In a Sentence: Her green-eyed reaction was obvious when her sibling got a bigger share of dessert.
Other Ways to Say: Jealous, Envious
26. Resent someone’s shine
Meaning: To feel envious of someone’s success or attention.
In a Sentence: He resented his teammate’s shine when the coach praised her performance over his.
Other Ways to Say: Envy their spotlight, Begrudge their glory
27. Envy in your bones
Meaning: Deep, ingrained feelings of jealousy.
In a Sentence: She felt envy in her bones every time her cousin bragged about her perfect grades.
Other Ways to Say: Deep-seated jealousy, Core envy
28. Want what someone’s got
Meaning: To desire someone else’s possessions or success.
In a Sentence: He couldn’t help but want what his neighbor’s got after seeing their fancy new pool.
Other Ways to Say: Covet their stuff, Envy their things
29. Green-tinged heart
Meaning: A heart filled with jealousy or envy.
In a Sentence: Her green-tinged heart ached as she watched her friend receive all the applause.
Other Ways to Say: Jealous heart, Envious soul
30. Stew in your own juice
Meaning: To dwell on feelings of jealousy or resentment.
In a Sentence: Instead of moving on, he chose to stew in his own juice over his friend’s new job.
Other Ways to Say: Wallow in envy, Brood over jealousy
31. Jealousy’s claws
Meaning: The gripping, painful hold of jealousy.
In a Sentence: Jealousy’s claws dug into her when she saw her ex-best friend with a new group of friends.
Other Ways to Say: Envy’s grip, Jealousy’s hold
32. Covet with a vengeance
Meaning: To feel intense, almost aggressive jealousy.
In a Sentence: She coveted her rival’s new role with a vengeance, determined to outshine her next time.
Other Ways to Say: Fiercely envy, Relentlessly covet
33. Green-eyed glance
Meaning: A jealous or envious look.
In a Sentence: He shot a green-eyed glance at his classmate who got the lead role in the play.
Other Ways to Say: Jealous look, Envious stare
34. Seethe with envy
Meaning: To feel intense, simmering jealousy.
In a Sentence: She was seething with envy when her coworker got the corner office she’d been eyeing.
Other Ways to Say: Boil with jealousy, Fume with envy
35. Envy’s shadow
Meaning: The lingering presence of jealousy affecting someone’s mood or actions.
In a Sentence: Envy’s shadow hung over her as she watched her friend’s social media blow up with likes.
Other Ways to Say: Jealousy’s cloud, Envy’s gloom
36. Grudge their glory
Meaning: To feel resentment toward someone’s success or fame.
In a Sentence: He grudged their glory when his teammates were celebrated for the win he contributed to.
Other Ways to Say: Resent their fame, Begrudge their success
37. Green with spite
Meaning: Feeling jealousy mixed with bitterness or malice.
In a Sentence: She was green with spite when her rival was chosen for the scholarship she wanted.
Other Ways to Say: Bitterly jealous, Spitefully envious
38. Covet their spotlight
Meaning: To be jealous of the attention or recognition someone else is receiving.
In a Sentence: He coveted their spotlight when his friend was interviewed for the school newspaper.
Other Ways to Say: Want their fame, Envy their attention
39. Jealousy’s sting
Meaning: The sharp, painful feeling of envy.
In a Sentence: Jealousy’s sting hit her hard when her sister got the new phone she’d been saving for.
Other Ways to Say: Envy’s bite, Jealousy’s jab
40. Look green
Meaning: To visibly show signs of jealousy.
In a Sentence: He looked green when his friend showed up in the car he’d always dreamed of owning.
Other Ways to Say: Appear jealous, Show envy
41. Envy’s poison
Meaning: The toxic, harmful effect of jealousy on one’s emotions.
In a Sentence: Envy’s poison spread through her as she watched her colleague get the praise she craved.
Other Ways to Say: Jealousy’s venom, Envy’s toxin
42. Green with longing
Meaning: Feeling intense desire or envy for something someone else has.
In a Sentence: She was green with longing when her friend showed off her new designer dress at the party.
Other Ways to Say: Yearn enviously, Crave jealously
43. Resent their edge
Meaning: To feel jealous of someone’s advantage or superiority.
In a Sentence: He resented their edge when his classmate always seemed to have better study resources.
Other Ways to Say: Envy their advantage, Begrudge their lead
44. Covet their prize
Meaning: To be jealous of someone’s achievement or reward.
In a Sentence: She coveted their prize when her teammate won the science fair trophy she’d worked hard for.
Other Ways to Say: Want their reward, Envy their win
45. Jealousy’s fire
Meaning: The intense, burning feeling of envy.
In a Sentence: Jealousy’s fire consumed him when his friend got accepted into the elite program he’d applied for.
Other Ways to Say: Envy’s blaze, Jealousy’s heat
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- When she saw her friend’s new car, she was _______ with envy and couldn’t stop staring.
- The _______-eyed monster took over when he saw his rival get the promotion he wanted.
- She tried to act cool, but her _______ grapes attitude showed she was jealous of the party she wasn’t invited to.
- He was _______ with jealousy when his cousin got the latest gaming console for his birthday.
- Seeing her classmate’s perfect grades made her feel _______ of envy that kept her up at night.
- He couldn’t help but _______ his friend’s thunder when she was praised for her artwork in class.
- She felt _______’s sting when her sister got the lead role in the school play she auditioned for.
- Watching his neighbor’s new boat made him _______ what they’ve got with all his heart.
- Her _______-tinged heart ached when her friend was chosen for the scholarship she applied for.
- Instead of moving on, he chose to _______ in his own juice over his friend’s new job.
- She _______ daggers at her coworker who got the recognition she felt she deserved.
- The _______ of jealousy struck her when she saw her ex with a new partner at the party.
Answers:
green, green, sour, burning, pangs, covet, jealousy, want, green, stew, looked, pangs
Conclusion
Jealousy idioms bring a vivid and expressive way to describe one of the most universal human emotions. They allow us to articulate envy, rivalry, and longing with creativity and depth, making conversations more engaging and relatable. By learning and using these 45 idioms, you can better express those moments when the green-eyed monster strikes, whether in casual chats, creative writing, or even self-reflection.
Practice these phrases in your daily life—whether at school, with friends, or in your writing—to make them a natural part of your communication. Over time, you’ll find these idioms slipping effortlessly into your conversations, adding color and flair to how you express yourself. Language is a powerful tool, and jealousy idioms make it even more dynamic and insightful.