down in the dumps

Although the meanings of the words in them do not make any sense when examined one by one, the word groups that are shaped according to the cultural roots of the language and that make sense as a whole are called idioms. down in the dumps meaning, in what situations is it used?

Meaning of "down in the dumps"

Meaning

The phrase ‘down in the dumps’ is an idiom often used to describe a person who is feeling sad, depressed or discouraged. It is usually used to refer to someone who has been feeling this way for a while and not just a mood that is fleeting or transitory.

Etymology

The phrase ‘down in the dumps’ has an interesting etymological origin that dates back to the 18th century. It is believed to have first been used in the early 1700s in England, where it was used as a metaphor for the pits of garbage, or ‘dumps’, in the street. The phrase was used to describe someone who was so down and out that they were living in the ‘dumps’.

Usage

The phrase ‘down in the dumps’ is most commonly used to describe a person who is feeling down or depressed, but it can also be used to describe a person who is feeling discouraged or dejected. It is often used in the context of someone who has been feeling down and out for a while, rather than just a short-term sadness. It is commonly used both in spoken language and in writing.

Example Sentences

• After his divorce, John was really down in the dumps for weeks.
• Sally has been down in the dumps since she got the news about her job.
• He's been so down in the dumps lately that he hasn't wanted to go out with us.
• I could tell he was down in the dumps, so I tried to cheer him up.

Idioms have a common language

"The early bird catches the worm" is an English idiom that means that those who wake up early and start their day early are more likely to succeed. A similar idiom in Spanish is "El que madruga, Dios le ayuda," which translates to "God helps those who rise early." This idiom emphasizes the importance of starting the day early in order to achieve success.