down in the dumps

Meaning

This expression means to feel unhappy, depressed, or discouraged. It is a casual, slightly informal way to describe someone who is feeling sad, but it is generally not used for severe, clinical depression. It has a sympathetic but lighthearted tone.

Examples

• He's been a bit down in the dumps since his football team lost the final.

  He's been a bit down in the dumps since his football team lost the final.

• Whenever I'm down in the dumps, a long walk in the park usually cheers me up.

  Whenever I'm down in the dumps, a long walk in the park usually cheers me up.

• She looked down in the dumps today, so I bought her a coffee.

  She looked down in the dumps today, so I bought her a coffee.

• There's no reason to be down in the dumps; things will get better soon.

  There's no reason to be down in the dumps; things will get better soon.

• Are you feeling down in the dumps because of the rainy weather?

  Are you feeling down in the dumps because of the rainy weather?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She is down in the dump after failing her test.

  ✓ She is down in the dumps after failing her test.

  The word 'dumps' must always be plural in this idiom.

• ✗ I feel down of the dumps today.

  ✓ I feel down in the dumps today.

  Use the preposition 'in' to show where you are metaphorically located.

Related Expressions

Practice

• He has been ___ ever since his vacation ended.

  💡 Feeling sad or discouraged.

  Show answer

  down in the dumps

• If you are feeling ___, let's go out for some ice cream.

  💡 An informal phrase meaning unhappy.

  Show answer

  down in the dumps