To think a lot of people don't know the difference between jealousy and envy

[heyheymicky]

I have name changed because it's my first time starting a thread and I'm a bit of a coward

Whenever there's a thread critising a successful celab (Madonna /Amanda Holden etc) or another poster who is on megabucks who may come across a little too pleased with themselves, there is always a poster defending them who accuses you of jealousy. But surely they mean envious as you are coverting something that they have but is not yours (lots of money, amazing figure - envy) rather than worrying that someone or something will be taken away from you (partner leaving you for someone else, your child liking partners new girlfriend a lot , cat snuggles up to your partner and not you - jealousy).

Does anybody else notice this?

I’m pretty sure you can be ‘jealous of....’ things. And that it’s not limited to a feeling generated by someone infringing on something you already have.

Off to check my dictionary....

Adjective: feeling or showing an envious resentment of someone or their achievements, possessions, or perceived advantages.
"she was always jealous of me"
synonyms: envious, covetous, desirous; More

So OP, you are wrong. And therefore YABU.

Rightly or wrongly I think people use jealous to mean envious quite widely now.

I just googled this..... I didn't know!!!

Hi @happy, if you are at an event with your partner for example and the most amazing looking person (if you notice that kind of thing), you could think to yourself 'wow I wish I could look like that, you would envious of her but if your partner was to flirt with her, then that's jealousy.
They are different.

I don't think I am wrong @Happyspud, I always suspected that there was a slight deference but I googled It to make sure.

Just check the dictionary. Your use is correct. But not the only use.

I’ e always thought of envy as wanting something someone else has and jealousy as fear of losing something you have to someone else. You guard something jealously.

I get you @Happyspud, I just thought that an awful lot of people used it in the wrong context.

To be honest, I'm not a pedant at all and I would never dream of correcting others because I end up having to back down - like now .

You’re alright OP😅 Hopefully now you won’t feel any reaction to it being used the other way!

I think jealousy and envy are synonyms so I think you are incorrect.

Envy: 'Karen has such a beautiful house, I wish I could live in a place like that'.

Jealousy: 'Why does Karen get to live in that house, I deserve it much more than she does, the bitch'.

You are right. Most people don’t know.