Carry a grudge 🧎♂️❌
Meaning
To continue to feel angry or resentful towards someone for a past offense.
Origin
The imagery of 'carrying' something implies a burden, something heavy you bear with you. Long ago, perhaps in ancient times, grudges weren't just feelings; they were palpable weights. Imagine a wronged person literally carrying a sack filled with stones, each stone representing a slight, an insult, or a betrayal. The heavier the sack grew, the harder it was to move forward, the more it slowed them down. This physical manifestation of resentment became the mental image. To 'carry a grudge' meant to willingly take on that heavy, invisible load, a constant reminder of past pain that prevented true peace.
Carry a grudge represented with emoji🧎♂️❌
Note how the combination of the kneeling person and the 'X' subverts the notion of holding onto resentment. It playfully teaches the viewer that letting go can be as simple as a gesture, inviting a dialogue on the ephemeral nature of such burdens.
Examples
- He's still angry with his brother and continues to carry a grudge after that argument years ago.
- She promised she wouldn't carry a grudge, but she still gives him the cold shoulder.
- The old dragon decided to carry a grudge against the baker who once burned his toast.
- Even the grumpy garden gnome decided not to carry a grudge against the squirrel who stole his favorite acorn.
Frequently asked questions
'Carry a grudge' is an idiom. Unlike proverbs, which often offer advice or a moral lesson, idioms are phrases whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal meanings of the words; here, 'carrying' and 'grudge' combine to mean holding onto resentment.
The opposite of 'carry a grudge' is to forgive or let go. This means releasing the resentment and anger associated with a past offense, rather than continuing to bear it as a burden.
Yes, you can stop carrying a grudge even if the offender doesn't apologize or seek forgiveness. Forgiveness, in this context, is primarily about releasing your own negative emotions and the burden of resentment, rather than condoning the action.
The phrase 'carry a grudge' uses the metaphor of physical weight to represent the emotional burden of resentment. While grudges are feelings, the imagery suggests they can feel as heavy and debilitating as physically carrying a burden.