Idioms, especially those related to emotions, add a colorful touch to our conversations. In this article, we will dive into the realm of idioms for sadness, exploring the meanings behind each phrase.
So, buckle up for a journey through the world of phrases that paint a vivid picture of melancholy.
What is an idiom for sadness?
Idioms are phrases that convey a figurative meaning rather than a literal one. They add spice to our language, making it more interesting and expressive.
Idioms for sadness use metaphorical language to describe feelings of sorrow, grief, or melancholy.
Let’s dissect some common idioms related to sadness, breaking down their meanings and using them in sentences.
| Idiom | Meaning | In a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Down in the dumps | Feeling very sad or depressed. | After failing the test, Sarah was down in the dumps for days. |
| Blue as a skunk | Extremely sad or depressed. | When her pet rabbit passed away, Jenny was as blue as a skunk. |
| Cry over spilled milk | To be upset about something that has already happened. | There’s no use crying over spilled milk; let’s focus on finding a solution. |
| Feel under the weather | To feel unwell or sick, both physically and emotionally. | After a long day of work, Tom often feels under the weather. |
| Have a heavy heart | Feeling deep sadness or sorrow. | She had a heavy heart after hearing the tragic news. |
| Long face | Looking sad or unhappy. | Seeing his long face, I knew something was bothering him. |
| Like a wet blanket | Someone who dampens the mood or enthusiasm. | Don’t be a wet blanket; join the celebration! |
| Bummed out | Feeling disappointed or let down. | Sarah was bummed out when her plans got canceled. |
| Down and out | Completely defeated or hopeless. | After losing his job, he felt down and out for weeks. |
| Wearing a frown | Having a sad or displeased facial expression. | Even on sunny days, he could be found wearing a frown. |
| In the doldrums | In a state of low spirits or depression. | The gloomy weather left everyone in the doldrums. |
| Singing the blues | Expressing or feeling deep sadness. | After the breakup, she spent the evening singing the blues. |
| Gloomy Gus | Someone who is consistently pessimistic. | Don’t be such a gloomy Gus; things will get better. |
| Drowning in sorrow | Overwhelmed with grief or sadness. | After the loss, they felt like they were drowning in sorrow. |
| Moping around | Moving slowly and sadly, often with a sense of gloom. | Instead of moping around, let’s find a solution to the problem. |
| Sinking feeling | A feeling of impending disappointment or disaster. | As the deadline approached, he had a sinking feeling that he wouldn’t finish on time. |
| Rain on one’s parade | To spoil someone’s plans or happiness. | Don’t let minor setbacks rain on your parade; keep moving forward. |
| Heart in one’s boots | Feeling extremely sad or discouraged. | After the rejection, he walked away with his heart in his boots. |
| Tearful as a willow | Crying heavily, resembling the long branches of a willow tree. | The touching movie left her tearful as a willow. |
| Dragging one’s feet | Delaying or hesitating to take action. | Stop dragging your feet and face the challenge head-on. |
| Melancholy mood | A feeling of deep sadness or sorrow. | The gray sky matched her melancholy mood perfectly. |
| Broken-hearted | Overwhelmed with grief or sadness due to a loss or disappointment. | After the breakup, she was truly broken-hearted. |
| Feeling the blues | Experiencing deep sadness or depression. | Sometimes, just listening to music helps when feeling the blues. |
| Lost in a sea of sorrow | Overwhelmed by intense sadness. | The tragic news left him lost in a sea of sorrow. |
| In a funk | In a state of deep sadness or depression. | When things go wrong, it’s easy to find yourself in a funk. |
| Sadder but wiser | Having gained experience or knowledge at the cost of pain or disappointment. | After the mistake, she emerged sadder but wiser. |
| Stricken with grief | Overwhelmed with intense sorrow or sadness. | The sudden loss left the entire family stricken with grief. |
Metaphors can convey the depth of sadness, like comparing it to a heavy, dark cloud hanging over one’s heart. To discover more metaphors for sadness, you can visit this link: Metaphors for Sadness. Similarly, similes offer comparisons that make sadness more relatable, such as saying it’s as heavy as a burden too hard to bear. Explore additional similes for sadness here: Similes for Sadness.
Idioms for Sadness
1. Down in the dumps
Meaning: Feeling very sad or depressed.
In a Sentence: After failing the test, Sarah was down in the dumps for days.
2. Blue as a skunk
Meaning: Extremely sad or depressed.
In a Sentence: When her pet rabbit passed away, Jenny was as blue as a skunk.
3. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To be upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
In a Sentence: There’s no use crying over spilled milk; let’s focus on finding a solution.
4. Feel under the weather
Meaning: To feel unwell or sick, both physically and emotionally.
In a Sentence: After a long day of work, Tom often feels under the weather.
5. Have a heavy heart
Meaning: Feeling deep sadness or sorrow.
In a Sentence: She had a heavy heart after hearing the tragic news.
6. Long face
Meaning: Looking sad or unhappy.
In a Sentence: Seeing his long face, I knew something was bothering him.
7. Like a wet blanket
Meaning: Someone who dampens the mood or enthusiasm.
In a Sentence: Don’t be a wet blanket; join the celebration!
8. Bummed out
Meaning: Feeling disappointed or let down.
In a Sentence: Sarah was bummed out when her plans got canceled.
9. Down and out
Meaning: Completely defeated or hopeless.
In a Sentence: After losing his job, he felt down and out for weeks.
10. Wearing a frown
Meaning: Having a sad or displeased facial expression.
In a Sentence: Even on sunny days, he could be found wearing a frown.
11. In the doldrums
Meaning: In a state of low spirits or depression.
In a Sentence: The gloomy weather left everyone in the doldrums.
12. Singing the blues
Meaning: Expressing or feeling deep sadness.
In a Sentence: After the breakup, she spent the evening singing the blues.
13. Gloomy Gus
Meaning: Someone who is consistently pessimistic.
In a Sentence: Don’t be such a gloomy Gus; things will get better.
14. Drowning in sorrow
Meaning: Overwhelmed with grief or sadness.
In a Sentence: After the loss, they felt like they were drowning in sorrow.
15. Moping around
Meaning: Moving slowly and sadly, often with a sense of gloom.
In a Sentence: Instead of moping around, let’s find a solution to the problem.
16. Sinking feeling
Meaning: A feeling of impending disappointment or disaster.
In a Sentence: As the deadline approached, he had a sinking feeling that he wouldn’t finish on time.
17. Rain on one’s parade
Meaning: To spoil someone’s plans or happiness.
In a Sentence: Don’t let minor setbacks rain on your parade; keep moving forward.
18. Heart in one’s boots
Meaning: Feeling extremely sad or discouraged.
In a Sentence: After the rejection, he walked away with his heart in his boots.
19. Tearful as a willow
Meaning: Crying heavily, resembling the long branches of a willow tree.
In a Sentence: The touching movie left her tearful as a willow.
20. Dragging one’s feet
Meaning: Delaying or hesitating to take action.
In a Sentence: Stop dragging your feet and face the challenge head-on.
21. Melancholy mood
Meaning: A feeling of deep sadness or sorrow.
In a Sentence: The gray sky matched her melancholy mood perfectly.
22. Broken-hearted
Meaning: Overwhelmed with grief or sadness due to a loss or disappointment.
In a Sentence: After the breakup, she was truly broken-hearted.
23. Feeling the blues
Meaning: Experiencing deep sadness or depression.
In a Sentence: Sometimes, just listening to music helps when feeling the blues.
24. Lost in a sea of sorrow
Meaning: Overwhelmed by intense sadness.
In a Sentence: The tragic news left him lost in a sea of sorrow.
25. In a funk
Meaning: In a state of deep sadness or depression.
In a Sentence: When things go wrong, it’s easy to find yourself in a funk.
26. Sadder but wiser
Meaning: Having gained experience or knowledge at the cost of pain or disappointment.
In a Sentence: After the mistake, she emerged sadder but wiser.
27. Stricken with grief
Meaning: Overwhelmed with intense sorrow or sadness.
In a Sentence: The sudden loss left the entire family stricken with grief.
10 Quizzes About The Idiom in The Article
Quiz 1: What’s the Idiom?
- What idiom means feeling very sad or depressed?
Quiz 2: Finish the Sentence
- Complete the sentence: “After a long day of work, Tom often feels ________.”
Quiz 3: Interpret the Idiom
- What does the idiom “Cry over spilled milk” mean?
Quiz 4: Spot the Synonym
- Which idiom is a synonym for “Feeling deep sadness or sorrow”?
Quiz 5: Identify the Context
- In which situation would someone be described as having a “long face”?
Quiz 6: Choose the Right Idiom
- Which idiom describes someone who dampens the mood or enthusiasm?
Quiz 7: Predict the Outcome
- What might happen if someone is “dragging their feet”?
Quiz 8: True or False
- True or False: “Gloomy Gus” refers to someone who is consistently optimistic.
Quiz 9: Connect the Idiom
- Match the idiom with its meaning:
- “In a funk”
- “Tearful as a willow”
- “Heart in one’s boots”
Quiz 10: Create a Sentence
- Use any of the idioms to create a sentence about someone facing disappointment or sadness.
Conclusion
Language is a powerful tool, and idioms add a layer of richness to our expressions, especially when it comes to describing emotions like sadness. The idioms for sadness listed here offer a glimpse into the various ways people convey their feelings of sorrow.
