Is feeling-blue formal or informal?

It is informal. Use it in conversation, not in formal reports or academic writing.

How is feeling-blue different from sad?

Feeling-blue sounds lighter and less serious than sad. It often suggests a temporary low mood.

Can I say feeling-blue in business writing?

Usually no. In business writing, use sad, disappointed, or concerned instead.

← Dictionary

feeling-blue

/ˈfiː.lɪŋ bluː/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Feeling sad, low in energy, or a little depressed. It is informal and often describes a temporary mood.

She felt blue after the exam.
I'm a bit blue today.
He looked blue all morning.

Adinary Nuance

Feeling-blue is close to sad, upset, and down, but it sounds softer and more casual. Use it for a mood that is not severe and may pass quickly. Sad is more direct, and depressed is stronger and more clinical. Compared with upset, feeling-blue focuses more on low mood than on anger or stress.

In other languages

Vietnamese: buồn bã
Spanish: triste
Chinese: 忧郁
Japanese: 気が落ち込んだ
Korean: 우울한

Etymology

This phrase uses blue in an old English sense meaning sad or unhappy. That sense appeared in English by the 1600s and is still used today in informal speech.

Common phrases

feel bluea blue moodblue and downlook blue

Synonyms

sad down downhearted dejected

Related words

mood melancholy low gloomy

Frequently asked questions

Is feeling-blue formal or informal?: It is informal. Use it in conversation, not in formal reports or academic writing.
How is feeling-blue different from sad?: Feeling-blue sounds lighter and less serious than sad. It often suggests a temporary low mood.
Can I say feeling-blue in business writing?: Usually no. In business writing, use sad, disappointed, or concerned instead.