down-in-the-dumps
/ˌdaʊn ɪn ðə ˈdʌmps/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Very sad, unhappy, or in a low mood. People use it for a temporary emotional state, often from worry, disappointment, or tiredness.
- She felt down-in-the-dumps after the exam.
- I'm a bit down-in-the-dumps today.
- The bad news left him down-in-the-dumps.
Adinary Nuance
Down-in-the-dumps is more informal than sad or unhappy. It sounds natural in conversation, but it can feel too casual for formal writing. Compared with depressed, it is lighter and less clinical. It often suggests a temporary low mood, not a serious condition.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- buồn bã
- Spanish
- deprimido
- Chinese
- 情绪低落
- Japanese
- 落ち込んだ
- Korean
- 우울한
Etymology
This phrase appears in English in the 1800s. It likely comes from the idea of being in the “dumps,” a word for a bad mood or gloomy place.
Common phrases
feel down-in-the-dumpslook down-in-the-dumpsa down-in-the-dumps mood
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is down-in-the-dumps formal or informal?
- It is informal and common in spoken English. It is not the best choice for academic writing.
- Is down-in-the-dumps the same as depressed?
- Not exactly. Down-in-the-dumps usually means a temporary low mood. Depressed can sound stronger and more serious.
- Can I use down-in-the-dumps about a person?
- Yes. You can say someone looks or feels down-in-the-dumps.
- How do I use down-in-the-dumps in a sentence?
- Use it after verbs like feel, look, or seem: “He felt down-in-the-dumps.”