does there exist ''white envy''?
The English say'' a white lie'' when it is an innocent lie, don't they? And how about envy? Is there ''white envy'' or smth like that?
8 Answers
then I'll say innocent envy, I hadn't heard that
I think that my poor choice of wording may have caused some confusion. I did not mean to imply that either "innocent envy" or "white envy" were common expressions. The truth is that I have never in my life heard either one of these.
On the other hand, in certain contexts, if you were to say "innocent envy" to suggest that the envy did not necessarily imply such negative ideas as resentfulness or contempt towards the person being envied, I would probably understand what you meant. I imagine that other expressions–again, not ones that I have necessarily ever heard, but ones that I could conceive as being possible–might be "healthy envy" or "harmless envy." For example:
?There's nothing like a little healthy envy to get me motivated
?A little innocent envy never hurt anyone.
?Your colleagues will probably react with mild, harmless envy and everyone else with congratulations and praise.
To be fair, however, I think that both expressions, by their nature (i.e. by juxtaposing such innocuous sounding words as "healthy" and "innocent" with "envy," a word which generally carries a negative connotation), are probably underscored by at least a slight bit of irony.
Hola, xentuck,
I would like to explain that your original premise is not exactly correct.
A "white lie" does not mean an "innocent" lie. A white lie is told with the intention to protect or spare a person/person's feelings from a harsh truth.
The person hearing the lie may be innocent (of some knowledge or fact) but the person telling the "white lie" certainly is not.
Hope this helps --
You can say in spanish "envidia sana", when it is an innocent envy...Saludos desde Madrid.
Thanks to all of you. I just wanted to know whether there are any words that accompany ' envy' because in my native tounge ( Armenian) we say " a kind envy" which means you envy someone not because you are an envy but just you'd like to have the same thing ( not wanting any bad for this particular person)
That is very helpful to know, xentuck.
No, there are no English adjectives I know of that mitigate (or make less strong) the word envy, as in your native language.
We might just substitute the word "admire" or "wish" for it.
He admired the Corvette of his friend.
She wished she could go to the royal wedding like her friend.
I love the English language, but it did stem from a puritanical culture, so that may be a reason they do not dilute the meaning of the word.
There is a commandment that we not lie, bear false witness against a person. Following this would prevent us from harming anyone with a lie.
By following the commandment that we not feel envy, covetousness, we would protect ourselves from an internal damage that would result.
So a white lie is an attempt to protect others but a white envy cannot exist because one damages oneself by envy.
NancyGrace is correct. A 'White Lie' is told to spare a persons feelings.
As for envy there is no exact colour associated, however, jealousy this is usually associated with the colour green.
Often in english, jealousy is described as a 'green-eyed monster'. This was originally a quote from Shakespeare, that is still commonly used today.
Hope this helps also.
I cannot say that I have ever heard an expression such as "white envy" (meaning "innocent envy") in English.
