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.

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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.

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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)