[Idiom] DOWN IN THE DUMPS. - Lifting Spirits: Overcoming Times of Sadness

feeling low

'Down in the dumps' means to feel very sad or depressed. Historically, 'dumps' might have referred to a gloomy, swampy area, symbolizing a low, stuck place. When someone says they're down in the dumps, they're expressing that they're stuck in a mood of deep melancholy, much like being in a mire of sadness.

Example Sentences

1. I've been down in the dumps since my dog ran away.

   I've been feeling very sad since my dog ran away.

2. She was down in the dumps after hearing the bad news.

   She felt very depressed after hearing the bad news.

3. After the breakup, he seemed to be down in the dumps for days.

   After the breakup, he felt very sad for days.