doldrums

be in the doldrums

1. To be depressed or in low spirits; to be lethargic, sluggish, or lacking energy. I've been down in the doldrums ever since my grandfather died last month. I haven't really felt like going out and seeing friends lately. I'm just down in the doldrums a bit, I suppose.
2. To be in a state of stagnation; to lack activity or progress. After being in the doldrums for the past several years, the economy finally began to pick up over the last two months. The company has been in the doldrums ever since they replaced their CEO.
See also: doldrums

down in the doldrums

1. Depressed or in low spirits; lethargic, sluggish, or lacking energy. I've been down in the doldrums ever since my grandfather died last month. I haven't really felt like going out and seeing friends lately. I'm just down in the doldrums a bit, I suppose.
2. In a state of stagnation; lacking activity or progress. The economy, down in the doldrums for the past several years, finally began to pick up over the last two months. The company has been down in the doldrums ever since they replaced their CEO.
See also: doldrums, down

in the doldrums

1. Depressed or in low spirits; lethargic, sluggish, or lacking energy. I've been in the doldrums ever since my grandfather died last month. I haven't really felt like going out and seeing friends lately. I'm just down in the doldrums a bit, I suppose.
2. In a state of stagnation; lacking activity or progress. After being in the doldrums for the past several years, the economy finally began to pick up over the last two months. The company has been in the doldrums ever since they replaced their CEO.
See also: doldrums

out of the doldrums

No longer in a state of stagnation or misfortune; increasing in activity, progress, or success. After being stuck in a recession for the past several years, the economy has finally begun coming out of the doldrums in recent months.
See also: doldrums, of, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*in the doldrums

Fig. sluggish; inactive; in low spirits. (*Typically: be ~; put someone [into] ~.) He's usually in the doldrums in the winter. I had some bad news yesterday, which put me into the doldrums.
See also: doldrums
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

in the doldrums

Depressed; dull and listless. For example, Dean's in the doldrums for most of every winter. This expression alludes to the maritime doldrums, a belt of calms and light winds north of the equator in which sailing ships were often becalmed. [Early 1800s] Also see down in the dumps.
See also: doldrums
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

in the doldrums

COMMON If a person, organization, economy, etc. is in the doldrums, they are not successful and are not making any progress. The restaurant business, like many other businesses, is in the doldrums. I was bored and my career was in the doldrums.
See also: doldrums

out of the doldrums

If a person, organization, economy, etc. comes out of the doldrums, they improve and become more successful and active. Still, today's estimates provide hope the economy may finally be coming out of the doldrums. With her humour and upbeat spirit, Jane got me right out of the doldrums I'd been in for three years. Note: The above expressions relate to the Doldrums, which is an area of sea near the equator where there is often little or no wind. This meant that sailing ships could be stuck there for long periods. It is not clear whether sailors named the area after the expression, or whether the name for the area gave rise to the expression, although the first possibility is more likely.
See also: doldrums, of, out
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

in the ˈdoldrums

quiet or depressed: Property sales have been in the doldrums for some time. He was in the doldrums for the whole winter.
See also: doldrums
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

in the doldrums

Depressed, down in the dumps; stagnant, inactive. The word, whose origin is uncertain, began to be used in the early nineteenth century both for the maritime doldrums, a belt of calms and light winds north of the equator in which sailing ships often found themselves becalmed, and for a feeling of depression. Thus Frederick Marryat wrote, in Jacob Faithful (1835), “Come father, old Dictionary is in the doldrums; rouse him up.”
See also: doldrums
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • be in the doldrums
  • down in the doldrums
  • in the doldrums
  • pep talk
  • a pep talk
  • come into a (small) fortune
  • run a fever
  • run a fever and run a temperature
  • a/(one's) place of business
  • place of business
References in periodicals archive
Now that he has declared the economy is in the doldrums, what will his administration do next?
Economy in the doldrums
The temptation is to head south as quickly as possible, but that isn't always right and could cause you problems when you encounter the Doldrums.
Abu Dhabi team hoping for stronger winds in NZ
LUDLOW: 1.10 Mountain King, 1.40 Marju King, 2.10 Rydalis, 2.40 Mini Muck, 3.10 Lord Of House, 3.40 Forgivienne, 4.10 Onenightinvienna MARKET RASEN: 1.30 Arthur's Oak, 2.00 Yorkist, 2.30 Joanne One, 3.00 Firth Of The Clyde, 3.30 Plum Pudidng, 4.00 Trozulon WINCANTON: 1.20 Weather Babe, 1.50 Mic's Delight, 2.20 Samstown, 2.50 Poet, 3.20 Toby Lerone, 3.50 Baltimore Rock, 4.20 Vieux Lion Rouge WOLVERHAMPTON: 4.30 The Dandy Yank, 5.00 Dodina, 5.30 Wild Desert, 6.00 Belle Peinture, 6.30 Matraash, 7.00 DOLDRUMS (NAP), 7.30 Chez Vrony
Johnston ready to get out of the Doldrums
Doldrums did not enjoy such an instant impact on her first handicap start, however, struggling off a mark of 76 when stepped up slightly in trip and being swamped by more experienced rivals.
Doldrums to raise hope
"Duck doldrums. And I just called you 'my brothers!"
Despicable duck doldrums
Bernard Brown of KPMG, which helped with the study, added: "Although the jobs market has held up relatively well, it remains in the summer doldrums and, worryingly, there seem to be early signs of trends similar to those of 2008."
'Summer doldrums' for the jobs market; Business briefing
Since the crew have had their share of gales aboard the Jewel in this leg, it is only fair to expect some doldrums (long periods of no wind), which is exactly what they have experienced since May 26.
Malaysia beckons Jewel of Muscat
But I have brought back with me many fond memories--and to keep away the winter doldrums, I look at the drawings the children gave me, up on my studio walls.
Genevieve Cote in New Brunswick
In Adagio's absence, the Colonial Turf Cup went to Summer Doldrums, who hung on from fellow New Yorker Strike A Deal after being angled six wide turning for home and hitting the front in midstretch.
Horse Racing: Adagio forced to miss US debut
Techniques and strategies that anyone can use to lift themselves out of the doldrums abound in this invigorating and emotionally cleansing self-help guide.
Healthy Attitudes Smart Choices
Michelle Malone, Sugarfoot (Valley Entertainment) This Atlanta lesbian is a contemporary of the Indigo Girls and Shawn Colvin, but her bluesy rock is hardly easy listening--she cites her latest as attempt to "escape the doldrums of adult reality ...
Indie music preview
After a number of quarters in the doldrums, newsletter acquisition activity finally awoke in the second quarter this year to join the rest of the information industry in the stepped-up level of overall acquisitions that began last year, reports the merger and acquisition advisory firm Whitestone Communications--which tracks M & A deals for its annual Who's Buying Whom reference publication.
Whitestone says newsletter M & A's are joining the dance
Downtown has passed its post-911 doldrums and is reverberating with signs of a high-end retail renaissance, said chairman and CEO of L&L Holding Company, David W.
Retail promising to bloom despite rebuilding debacle
I don't think we are in the doldrums. We have just qualified for the World Cup with a game to spare and that has not happened for quite a while.
In off the post: QUOTE UNQUOTE