Nurse a grudge
Meaning
To harbor resentment or ill will towards someone for a long time.
Origin
The phrase vividly combines the tender act of "nursing"—caring for, fostering, or preserving—with the bitter sting of a "grudge." The verb "to nurse" took on this metaphorical sense of carefully attending to a feeling or condition as early as the 16th century, moving beyond just caring for the infirm. Imagine someone meticulously tending to a festering resentment, feeding it with every remembered slight, ensuring it never truly fades. A "grudge," rooted in the Old French word "grugier" (to grumble), is the enduring anger itself. Together, they create a powerful image of a person actively cultivating their animosity, holding onto past hurts with a determined, almost nurturing, grip, preventing any chance of forgiveness or peace.
Examples
- She continued to nurse a grudge against her former colleague for getting the promotion she felt she deserved.
- It's unhealthy to nurse a grudge for years; it only hurts you in the long run.