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. A: "Why does Chris seem so miserable?" B: "He hates the cold weather, so I suspect that's why he's in the doldrums right now."
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. The school had been in the doldrums for decades until it got a very generous gift from an anonymous donor.
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. A: "Why does Chris seem so miserable?" B: "He hates the cold weather, so I suspect that's why he's down in the doldrums right now."
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. The school had been down in the doldrums for decades until it got a very generous gift from an anonymous donor.
in the doldrums
1. Depressed or in low spirits; lethargic, sluggish, or lacking energy. I've been 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. A: "Why does Chris seem so miserable?" B: "He hates the cold weather, so I suspect that's why he's in the doldrums right now."
2. In a state of stagnation; lacking 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. The school had been in the doldrums for decades until it got a very generous gift from an anonymous donor.
out of the doldrums
No longer in a state of stagnation or misfortune; increasing in activity, progress, or success. After being stuck in a recession for the past several years, the economy has finally begun coming out of the doldrums in recent months.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
*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.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
in the doldrums
COMMON If a person, organization, economy, etc. is in the doldrums, they are not successful and are not making any progress. The restaurant business, like many other businesses, is in the doldrums. I was bored and my career was in the doldrums.
out of the doldrums
If a person, organization, economy, etc. comes out of the doldrums, they improve and become more successful and active. Still, today's estimates provide hope the economy may finally be coming out of the doldrums. With her humour and upbeat spirit, Jane got me right out of the doldrums I'd been in for three years. Note: The above expressions relate to the Doldrums, which is an area of sea near the equator where there is often little or no wind. This meant that sailing ships could be stuck there for long periods. It is not clear whether sailors named the area after the expression, or whether the name for the area gave rise to the expression, although the first possibility is more likely.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
in the ˈdoldrums
quiet or depressed: Property sales have been in the doldrums for some time. ♢ He was in the doldrums for the whole winter.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
in the doldrums
Depressed, down in the dumps; stagnant, inactive. The word, whose origin is uncertain, began to be used in the early nineteenth century both for the maritime doldrums, a belt of calms and light winds north of the equator in which sailing ships often found themselves becalmed, and for a feeling of depression. Thus Frederick Marryat wrote, in Jacob Faithful (1835), “Come father, old Dictionary is in the doldrums; rouse him up.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer