Green with envy
/ɡriːn wɪð ˈɛnvi/
B2
Definition
The phrase "green with envy" means feeling very jealous, which is when you want what someone else has, like their success, things, or qualities. It is not a physical color but a way to show strong feelings of wanting or wishing for something that belongs to someone else.
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See It in Action
Feeling very jealous or wanting what someone else has
- •She was green with envy when she saw her friend’s new car.
- •He felt green with envy because his brother got a better gift.
- •They were green with envy watching their classmates go on the trip.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "green with envy" like "jealous," but stronger and more colorful—it's like your feeling turns into a color green inside you.
- ✓Picture someone’s face turning a little green when they see a friend with a new toy or prize—they feel unhappy because they want it too.
- ✓It’s the feeling you get when you see a classmate get a prize you wanted, and you wish it was yours.
- ✓Sounds like "green" (the color of leaves) mixed with "envy" (wanting what others have) → imagine green leaves growing on a person who feels jealous.
- ✓Think of cartoons where characters turn green when they feel jealous or upset—this helps remember the phrase.
- ✓NOT like "happy" (good feeling) but "green with envy" is a negative feeling about what others have.
- ✓NOT like "angry" (strong upset) but more like wishing you had what someone else has, feeling unhappy inside.
Try Other Words
- •Jealous: feeling unhappy because you want what someone else has (Use in everyday situations)
- •Envious: feeling like you want something that belongs to another person (Use in formal or written English)
- •Resentful: feeling bitter or upset about unfair treatment (Use when jealousy includes anger)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "green" (color) + "with" (preposition) + "envy" (feeling of wanting what others have)
- •Etymology: "Green" has been linked to jealousy since old times because green can mean sickness or discomfort; "envy" comes from Latin "invidia," meaning displeasure at others' good fortune.
- •Historical development: The phrase "green with envy" appeared in English literature in the 16th century to describe jealousy as a green color.
- •Modern usage: Used today as an idiom to describe strong jealousy or desire for what others have, often in a playful or dramatic way.
Reflect & Connect
•Why do you think the color green was chosen to represent envy or jealousy?
•Can feeling "green with envy" ever be a positive motivation to improve yourself? How?
Fill in the blanks
1.She was green with envy ___ her friend’s success ___ winning the prize.
2.When he saw the new phone, he turned green with envy because he ___ one too.
3.Being green with envy is different from being angry because it shows ___ you want something, not ___ you are mad.
4.The phrase "green with envy" ___ often used when someone feels jealous in a strong way.
5.People say "green with envy" because green is thought to ___ jealousy or sickness.
6.If someone is green with envy, they usually ___ wish they had what another person has.
7.When she heard about the promotion, she was green with envy, so she decided to ___ harder at work.