green with envy
green with envy
Meaning
- extremely jealous of another person.
- to be unhappy about something.
- upset because someone else has something that you do not have.
- being envious.
- wishing to have someone’s possession.
Example Sentences
- Sally was green with envy when he saw my brand new car.
- Why are you getting green with envy?
- All the participants were green with envy when John was delivering his speech.
- I was green with envy when I came to know that my enemy got into a relationship with my recent crush.
- I could see that all the girls were green with envy when I came out in my new dress.
- When I told Emma about the confirmation letter – she was green with envy.
- My engagement ring made my friends green with envy.
Origin
Long ago, the Greek associated a green complexion with sickness, fear, jealousy, and overproduction of bile in stomach, which gives us a clear image of the origination of the idiom “green with envy.”
It is believed that William Shakespeare made this association popular in Othello as:
“Beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on …”
See also: green-eyed monster
Similar Idioms
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Share your opinions1 Opinion
Shakespeare also seemed to reference this in the Romeo and Juliet balcony scene.
ROMEO:
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east and Juliet is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief
That thou her maid art far more fair than she.
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,
And none but fools do wear it.
‒ Michael Stone February 26, 2026