1. Home
2. Idioms
3. doldrums

doldrums

---

---

down in the doldrums

1. Depressed or in low spirits; lethargic, sluggish, or lacking energy. I've been down in the doldrums ever since my grandfather died last month. I haven't really felt like going out and seeing friends lately. I'm just down in the doldrums a bit, I suppose.

2. In a state of stagnation; lacking activity or progress. The economy, down in the doldrums for the past several years, finally began to pick up over the last two months. The company has been down in the doldrums ever since they replaced their CEO.

See also: doldrums, down

be in the doldrums

1. To be depressed or in low spirits; to be lethargic, sluggish, or lacking energy. I've been down in the doldrums ever since my grandfather died last month. I haven't really felt like going out and seeing friends lately. I'm just down in the doldrums a bit, I suppose.

2. To be in a state of stagnation; to lack activity or progress. After being in the doldrums for the past several years, the economy finally began to pick up over the last two months. The company has been in the doldrums ever since they replaced their CEO.

See also: doldrums

*in the doldrums

Fig. sluggish; inactive; in low spirits. (*Typically: be ~; put someone [into] ~.) He's usually in the doldrums in the winter. I had some bad news yesterday, which put me into the doldrums.

See also: doldrums

in the doldrums

1. lacking activity or progress When the economy is in the doldrums, every business feels the effects.

2. feeling sad and lacking the energy to do anything He's been in the doldrums since his girlfriend left for college.

Usage notes: the opposite is out of the doldrums: Maybe inviting him to dinner will get him out of the doldrums.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of the doldrums (the part of the world's seas near the equator where there is little wind, making it difficult to sail)

See also: doldrums

be in the doldrums

 

1. if a business, an economy or a person's job is in the doldrums, it is not very successful and nothing new is happening in it

Usage notes: The doldrums was the name for an area of sea where ships were not able to move because there was no wind.

High-street spending remains in the doldrums and retailers do not expect an imminent recovery.

2. to feel sad and to lack the energy to do anything He's been in the doldrums these past couple of weeks and nothing I do seems to cheer him up.

See also: doldrums

in the doldrums

Depressed; dull and listless. For example, Dean's in the doldrums for most of every winter. This expression alludes to the maritime doldrums, a belt of calms and light winds north of the equator in which sailing ships were often becalmed. [Early 1800s] Also see down in the dumps.

See also: doldrums