# down in the dumps

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/down-in-the-dumps
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Sad; lacking engagement or enthusiasm.

## Examples

- He feels down in the dumps after losing his job.
- Since her best friend moved away, she has been feeling down in the dumps and rarely leaves the house.
- Despite the festive atmosphere of the celebration, he remained down in the dumps, unable to shake the persistent melancholy that had clouded his mood for weeks.

## Origin

From the early modern noun *dump*, which denoted a dull or gloomy state of the mind. The plural form appears in English by the early 16th century, though the singular term for a fit of melancholy or a leaden depression was established earlier.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.