{"id":147,"date":"2021-10-20T03:52:28","date_gmt":"2021-10-20T03:52:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=147"},"modified":"2021-10-20T03:53:36","modified_gmt":"2021-10-20T03:53:36","slug":"down-in-the-dumps-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/down-in-the-dumps-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Down In The Dumps - Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

This guide will help you learn the meaning, origin, and synonyms of the expression \u2018down in the dumps<\/strong>.\u2019 It\u2019ll help you understand the context behind the expression and teach you how to use it in a sentence.<\/p>\n

Learning the English language is difficult, especially when you encounter phrases that don\u2019t imply a literal meaning. However, figurative or artistic expressions are an integral part of the language, and can help you communicate and understand English better. So, it\u2019s vital to know some of the most common phrases people use.<\/p>\n

Down In The Dumps Meaning<\/h2>\n

You can use this whenever you want to describe sadness or loss of spirit. It could also mean a period of depression. It\u2019s usually used whenever you want to describe a person\u2019s feelings figuratively.<\/p>\n

Usage Examples<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Lina has been down in the dumps<\/u> since she saw the results of her exam.<\/li>\n
  • My friend lost her pet last week, so it\u2019s not surprising she\u2019s down in the dumps<\/u> until now.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    How To Use It In Sentence?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The use of idioms can be confusing at first, especially when you don\u2019t know how to include them in a sentence. In some cases, the rules on the proper usage of a phrase aren\u2019t constant and can be change based on the context and intention of the speaker. However, you can keep the following tips in mind if you want to use the phrase \u2018down in the dumps\u2019<\/em><\/strong> in a sentence.<\/p>\n

      \n
    • This idiom is commonly used together with the word \u2018feel\u2019 or \u2018feeling.\u2019<\/li>\n
    • Use it when describing a person\u2019s emotions.<\/li>\n
    • You can also use it to define a time of depression. For example, if you want to say a business hasn\u2019t been doing well financially, you can use \u2018in the dumps\u2019<\/em><\/strong> to describe the performance of an entity.<\/li>\n
    • You can use \u2018Down in the dumps\u2019<\/em><\/strong> or \u2018in the dumps\u2019<\/em><\/strong> to express a more vivid feeling of sadness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      You shouldn\u2019t confuse the word \u2018dump\u2019<\/em><\/strong> and \u2018dumpster\u2019<\/em><\/strong> when using this idiom. If you\u2019re using the phrase \u2018in the dumps\u2019<\/em><\/strong>, you should remember you\u2019re not referring to a real place. It\u2019s used to denote a state of melancholy or depression. On the other hand, the word \u2018dumpster,\u2019<\/em><\/strong> which sounds similar to \u2018dumps\u2019<\/em><\/strong>, is commonly used to dispose of rubbish.<\/p>\n

      Origin<\/h2>\n

      The word \u2018dumps\u2019<\/em><\/strong> has been used to express a period of depression during the mid-1600s. To be \u2018in the dumps\u2019<\/em><\/strong> means you\u2019re feeling depressed or experiencing a low period in your life. Sir Thomas More\u2019s work \u2018A dialoge of comforte against tribulation\u2019<\/em> and William Shakespeare\u2019s \u2018Taming of the Shrew\u2019<\/em> both used the phrase \u2018in the dumps.\u2019<\/em><\/strong> It was also found on Francis Grose\u2019s priceless vocabulary, The Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue<\/em>, published in 1785.<\/p>\n

      Similar Phrases<\/h2>\n

      There are many idioms with a similar meaning as the phrase \u2018down in the dumps.\u2019<\/em><\/strong> You can use them whenever you speak or write in English to express your thoughts better. You\u2019ll eventually improve your vocabulary and find it easier to communicate and use idioms naturally if you know various phrases.<\/p>\n

        \n
      • To Feel Blue:<\/strong><\/span> The word \u2018blue<\/em>\u2019<\/strong> can be used in a sentence to indicate color or express sadness. You can say you\u2019re \u2018feeling blue\u2019<\/em><\/strong> instead of simply saying you\u2019re sad if you wish to communicate more eloquently.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Example:<\/strong> It\u2019s been raining these past few days heavily, and it\u2019s making me feel blue<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

          \n
        • A Sad Sight:<\/strong><\/span> An event that causes a person to feel lonely or pity. A depressing scene.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Example: <\/strong>Seeing my friend cry for the first time was a sad sight<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

            \n
          • One\u2019s Heart Sinks:<\/strong><\/span> This expression can be used in a sentence to describe a feeling of sudden disappointment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Example:<\/strong> My heart sank<\/em><\/strong> when I heard the news about the flooding in my hometown.<\/p>\n

              \n
            • Knock One Sideways:<\/strong><\/span> To make someone extremely sad. To catch one off guard or put someone in a dejected situation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Example:<\/strong> The sudden defeat of the team knocked all the players sideways<\/em><\/strong>. They\u2019re no longer qualified for the championship.<\/p>\n

              Phrases That Mean The Opposite<\/h2>\n

              Some idioms mean the complete opposite of \u2018down in the dumps.\u2019<\/em><\/strong> Here are some:<\/p>\n

                \n
              • On Top Of The World:<\/span> <\/strong>This means you\u2019re feeling thrilled. You can also use this to describe a significant achievement or event in your life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Example:<\/strong> My brother finally got the promotion he always wanted. He feels like he\u2019s on top of the world<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

                  \n
                • On Cloud Nine:<\/strong><\/span> Genuine happiness and feelings of bliss and contentment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Example: <\/strong>I was on cloud nine<\/em><\/strong> when they announced my grades, and it was higher than what I expected.<\/p>\n

                  Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n

                  The English language makes use of various forms of speech, like idioms. If you want to improve your overall language skill, you can learn how to use phrases with a figurative or less obvious meaning. For instance, using the words \u2018down in the dumps\u2019<\/em><\/strong> instead of saying you\u2019re feeling sad can help you express your emotions differently.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  This guide will help you learn the meaning, origin, and synonyms of the expression \u2018down in the dumps.\u2019 It\u2019ll help you understand the context behind the expression and teach you how to use it in a sentence. Learning the English language is difficult, especially when you encounter phrases that don\u2019t imply a literal meaning. However, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":150,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147\/revisions\/150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}