Down in the dumps

Meaning

Feeling sad or defeated.

Usage

Used to describe temporary melancholy.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Dumps is an old word for a gloomy or melancholy mood (from the 15th century), probably related to Dutch 'domp', meaning mist or haze. It has nothing to do with rubbish tips.

In use since the 1500s.