Depression is a challenging emotion to put into words. It’s often a complex mix of sadness, hopelessness, and despair that can be hard to express. That’s where idioms come in handy.
Idioms are phrases or expressions that convey a specific meaning beyond the words themselves. We’ll break down each idiom, explain its meaning, and provide an example sentence to help you understand and use these expressions effectively.
What is an idiom for depression?
Idioms for depression help us describe those moments when we’re feeling down, overwhelmed, or just not ourselves.
Let’s dive into the list of idioms and unpack what each one means.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Feeling blue | Feeling sad or downhearted. | After her dog passed away, Sarah has been feeling blue all week. |
| Down in the dumps | Feeling extremely unhappy or depressed. | Ever since he lost his job, Mark has been down in the dumps. |
| On a downward spiral | Experiencing a series of worsening situations or emotions. | His grades started slipping, and he found himself on a downward spiral. |
| In a dark place | Feeling emotionally troubled or overwhelmed. | She’s been in a dark place since her breakup. |
| Walking on a tightrope | Feeling as if you’re in a precarious or risky situation. | Juggling work and family life sometimes feels like walking on a tightrope. |
| Lost in the fog | Feeling confused or disoriented. | After the accident, he felt lost in the fog of his thoughts. |
| In a black hole | Feeling trapped or inescapably stuck in a difficult situation. | Debt can sometimes make you feel like you’re in a black hole. |
| Carrying a heavy heart | Feeling burdened by sadness or grief. | She was carrying a heavy heart after the loss of her best friend. |
| Suffering in silence | Experiencing pain or hardship without expressing it openly. | He had been suffering in silence for years, not wanting to burden anyone with his problems. |
| Swimming against the tide | Struggling against difficult circumstances or going against the flow. | Trying to make ends meet in a tough economy feels like swimming against the tide. |
| Stuck in a rut | Feeling trapped in a monotonous or unfulfilling routine. | James realized he was stuck in a rut with his job and decided to explore new opportunities. |
| Caught in a storm | Experiencing a period of intense difficulty or trouble. | Their relationship was caught in a storm of arguments and misunderstandings. |
| Under the weather | Feeling unwell or not at your best emotionally. | She’s been a bit under the weather since her cold started. |
| Down and out | Feeling completely defeated or without hope. | After losing everything in the fire, they were down and out. |
| Weighed down by sadness | Feeling overwhelmed by feelings of sorrow. | The news of her grandfather’s passing left her weighed down by sadness. |
| Struggling to stay afloat | Experiencing difficulties and trying hard to manage them. | With all the bills piling up, they were struggling to stay afloat financially. |
| Seeing through a glass darkly | Having a pessimistic or unclear view of the future. | After the breakup, her outlook on relationships was seeing through a glass darkly. |
| Living in a shadow | Feeling overshadowed or unnoticed. | As the youngest sibling, he often felt like he was living in his older brother’s shadow. |
| Feeling like a cloud is hanging over you | Feeling as if something gloomy or negative is constantly present. | Ever since the accident, she felt like a cloud was hanging over her. |
| Downhearted | Feeling disheartened or discouraged. | He couldn’t help but feel downhearted after failing the exam. |
| In a funk | Feeling in a bad mood or experiencing a period of low spirits. | She’s been in a funk ever since her plans got canceled. |
| Tied up in knots | Feeling anxious or nervous. | The upcoming presentation had her tied up in knots. |
| Going through the motions | Doing something without enthusiasm or interest. | Since her pet passed away, she’s been going through the motions at work. |
| Burying your emotions | Suppressing or hiding your true feelings. | Instead of talking about her problems, she was burying her emotions deep inside. |
| Navigating a maze of emotions | Trying to understand and manage a complex mix of feelings. | After the breakup, he was navigating a maze of emotions, including anger, sadness, and confusion. |
| Carrying the weight of the world | Feeling an overwhelming sense of responsibility or burden. | As a single parent, she often felt like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. |
| Wading through treacle | Experiencing something slow and difficult. | Trying to get her life back on track felt like wading through treacle. |
To explore more metaphors for depression, you can visit this link: Metaphors for Depression. Similarly, similes provide comparisons that make depression more relatable, such as saying it’s as suffocating as a weight on one’s chest. Discover additional similes for depression here: Similes for Depression.
Idioms for Depression
1. Feeling blue
Meaning: Feeling sad or downhearted.
In a Sentence: After her dog passed away, Sarah has been feeling blue all week.
2. Down in the dumps
Meaning: Feeling extremely unhappy or depressed.
In a Sentence: Ever since he lost his job, Mark has been down in the dumps.
3. On a downward spiral
Meaning: Experiencing a series of worsening situations or emotions.
In a Sentence: His grades started slipping, and he found himself on a downward spiral.
4. In a dark place
Meaning: Feeling emotionally troubled or overwhelmed.
In a Sentence: She’s been in a dark place since her breakup.
5. Walking on a tightrope
Meaning: Feeling as if you’re in a precarious or risky situation.
In a Sentence: Juggling work and family life sometimes feels like walking on a tightrope.
6. Lost in the fog
Meaning: Feeling confused or disoriented.
In a Sentence: After the accident, he felt lost in the fog of his thoughts.
7. In a black hole
Meaning: Feeling trapped or inescapably stuck in a difficult situation.
In a Sentence: Debt can sometimes make you feel like you’re in a black hole.
8. Carrying a heavy heart
Meaning: Feeling burdened by sadness or grief.
In a Sentence: She was carrying a heavy heart after the loss of her best friend.
9. Suffering in silence
Meaning: Experiencing pain or hardship without expressing it openly.
In a Sentence: He had been suffering in silence for years, not wanting to burden anyone with his problems.
10. Swimming against the tide
Meaning: Struggling against difficult circumstances or going against the flow.
In a Sentence: Trying to make ends meet in a tough economy feels like swimming against the tide.
11. Stuck in a rut
Meaning: Feeling trapped in a monotonous or unfulfilling routine.
In a Sentence: James realized he was stuck in a rut with his job and decided to explore new opportunities.
12. Caught in a storm
Meaning: Experiencing a period of intense difficulty or trouble.
In a Sentence: Their relationship was caught in a storm of arguments and misunderstandings.
13. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling unwell or not at your best emotionally.
In a Sentence: She’s been a bit under the weather since her cold started.
14. Down and out
Meaning: Feeling completely defeated or without hope.
In a Sentence: After losing everything in the fire, they were down and out.
15. Weighed down by sadness
Meaning: Feeling overwhelmed by feelings of sorrow.
In a Sentence: The news of her grandfather’s passing left her weighed down by sadness.
16. Struggling to stay afloat
Meaning: Experiencing difficulties and trying hard to manage them.
In a Sentence: With all the bills piling up, they were struggling to stay afloat financially.
17. Seeing through a glass darkly
Meaning: Having a pessimistic or unclear view of the future.
In a Sentence: After the breakup, her outlook on relationships was seeing through a glass darkly.
18. Living in a shadow
Meaning: Feeling overshadowed or unnoticed.
In a Sentence: As the youngest sibling, he often felt like he was living in his older brother’s shadow.
19. Feeling like a cloud is hanging over you
Meaning: Feeling as if something gloomy or negative is constantly present.
In a Sentence: Ever since the accident, she felt like a cloud was hanging over her.
20. Downhearted
Meaning: Feeling disheartened or discouraged.
In a Sentence: He couldn’t help but feel downhearted after failing the exam.
21. In a funk
Meaning: Feeling in a bad mood or experiencing a period of low spirits.
In a Sentence: She’s been in a funk ever since her plans got canceled.
22. Tied up in knots
Meaning: Feeling anxious or nervous.
In a Sentence: The upcoming presentation had her tied up in knots.
23. Going through the motions
Meaning: Doing something without enthusiasm or interest.
In a Sentence: Since her pet passed away, she’s been going through the motions at work.
24. Burying your emotions
Meaning: Suppressing or hiding your true feelings.
In a Sentence: Instead of talking about her problems, she was burying her emotions deep inside.
25. Navigating a maze of emotions
Meaning: Trying to understand and manage a complex mix of feelings.
In a Sentence: After the breakup, he was navigating a maze of emotions, including anger, sadness, and confusion.
26. Carrying the weight of the world
Meaning: Feeling an overwhelming sense of responsibility or burden.
In a Sentence: As a single parent, she often felt like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
27. Wading through treacle
Meaning: Experiencing something slow and difficult.
In a Sentence: Trying to get her life back on track felt like wading through a treacle.
10 Quizzes About The Idiom in The Article
- Question: What does the idiom “Feeling blue” mean?
- A) Feeling excited
- B) Feeling sad or downhearted
- C) Feeling hungry
- D) Feeling energetic
- Question: If someone is “Down in the dumps,” how are they likely feeling?
- A) Extremely happy
- B) Extremely unhappy or depressed
- C) Excited about life
- D) Energized
- Question: What does the expression “On a downward spiral” refer to?
- A) Gradually improving
- B) Experiencing a series of worsening situations or emotions
- C) Feeling carefree
- D) Climbing to success
- Question: If you’re “Walking on a tightrope,” what kind of situation are you in?
- A) A relaxed and stress-free situation
- B) A risky or precarious situation
- C) A situation full of opportunities
- D) A comfortable situation
- Question: What does it mean to be “Stuck in a rut”?
- A) Experiencing new and exciting things
- B) Feeling trapped in a monotonous routine
- C) Going on adventures
- D) Achieving success
- Question: If you’re “Caught in a storm,” what kind of situation are you facing?
- A) Clear skies and calm weather
- B) A period of intense difficulty or trouble
- C) A peaceful and relaxing time
- D) A situation full of joy
- Question: What does it mean when someone is “Under the weather”?
- A) Feeling energetic and lively
- B) Feeling unwell or not at their best emotionally
- C) Experiencing perfect health
- D) Feeling calm and collected
- Question: If someone is “Down and out,” what is their emotional state?
- A) Extremely happy and optimistic
- B) Completely defeated or without hope
- C) Energetic and enthusiastic
- D) Focused and determined
- Question: What does it mean to be “Tied up in knots” emotionally?
- A) Feeling relaxed and carefree
- B) Feeling anxious or nervous
- C) Experiencing great joy
- D) Having a clear and positive mindset
- Question: If you’re “Navigating a maze of emotions,” what are you trying to do?
- A) Experiencing a single emotion
- B) Trying to understand and manage a complex mix of feelings
- C) Avoiding emotions altogether
- D) Expressing emotions openly and honestly
Feel free to use these quiz questions to test your knowledge or share them with others to help reinforce the understanding of these idioms related to depression.
Conclusion
Using idioms for depression can help you express your feelings in a unique and vivid way. These expressions offer a way to communicate the complexity of emotions that often accompany depression.
