- Meaning
- This idiom describes feeling depressed, sad, or discouraged, as if languishing in a low, dreary place like a dump. It conveys emotional low spirits, often used in personal or social contexts to depict gloom or dejection. The phrase carries a tone of sympathy, melancholy, or encouragement, reflecting cultural values of emotional resilience and the human tendency to feel down. Its imagery of a dump evokes a bleak state, resonating in scenarios like setbacks or heartbreak. The idiom captures sadness, making it a vivid metaphor for low moods.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in 16th-century England, tied to ‘dump’ as a term for a refuse heap or low place, as noted in Elizabethan slang. Its earliest recorded use appears in Robert Burton’s *The Anatomy of Melancholy* (1621), for melancholy. The idiom gained traction in 18th-century literature, notably in Jonathan Swift’s *Gulliver’s Travels* (1726). Its spread was amplified by 20th-century media, with *The New York Times* using it for emotional slumps. Its adoption across English-speaking cultures stems from its evocative imagery and emotional relevance.
- Variants
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- In the dumps
- Down in the dump
- Feeling down in the dumps
- Examples
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- She’s down in the dumps after losing her job.
- In the dumps, he moped around after the breakup.
- Feeling down in the dumps, she skipped the party.
- Down in the dump, they struggled to stay motivated.
- He’s been down in the dumps since his team lost.
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