Doldrums
noun
A state of inactivity or stagnation.
After graduation, I fell into doldrums and didn't know what to do next.
Often appears as...
- fall into doldrums
- stuck in doldrums
noun
A part of the ocean, near the equator, where there is often very light wind or calm.
The sailing ship was stuck in the doldrums for days.
Often appears as...
- stuck in doldrums
- sail through doldrums
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A period of depression or unhappiness.
She's been in the doldrums ever since she lost her job.
Often appears as...
- in the doldrums
- fall into doldrums
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A state of inactivity or stagnation.
After graduation, I fell into doldrums and didn't know what to do next.
Often appears as...
- fall into doldrums
- stuck in doldrums
noun
A part of the ocean, near the equator, where there is often very light wind or calm.
The sailing ship was stuck in the doldrums for days.
Often appears as...
- stuck in doldrums
- sail through doldrums
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A period of depression or unhappiness.
She's been in the doldrums ever since she lost her job.
Often appears as...
- in the doldrums
- fall into doldrums
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Not Always Negative
Though often used for unwanted inactivity, 'doldrums' can reflect peaceful rest or a break.
The weekend was a welcome doldrums after a hectic week.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorical Use
'Doldrums' can symbolize a lack of progress in various contexts, not just personal.
The project is in the doldrums and needs a strong push.
Pro Tip 3/3Common Collocations
Frequently used with 'fall into', 'stuck in', or 'get out of' to describe entering or leaving the state.
We need to get out of the doldrums and start taking action.
Pro Tip 1/3Not Always Negative
Though often used for unwanted inactivity, 'doldrums' can reflect peaceful rest or a break.
The weekend was a welcome doldrums after a hectic week.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorical Use
'Doldrums' can symbolize a lack of progress in various contexts, not just personal.
The project is in the doldrums and needs a strong push.
Pro Tip 3/3Common Collocations
Frequently used with 'fall into', 'stuck in', or 'get out of' to describe entering or leaving the state.
We need to get out of the doldrums and start taking action.
Pro Tip 1/3Not Always Negative
Though often used for unwanted inactivity, 'doldrums' can reflect peaceful rest or a break.
The weekend was a welcome doldrums after a hectic week.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorical Use
'Doldrums' can symbolize a lack of progress in various contexts, not just personal.
The project is in the doldrums and needs a strong push.
Pro Tip 3/3Common Collocations
Frequently used with 'fall into', 'stuck in', or 'get out of' to describe entering or leaving the state.
We need to get out of the doldrums and start taking action.
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Video examples
My Country Will Be...
and I'm sure many of you understand that when you're on the equator, it's supposed to be in the doldrums. We're not supposed to get the cyclones. We create them, and then we send them either north or south. But they aren't supposed to come back. But for the first time, at the beginning of this year,
Video examples
Wings of the Albatross PIPE...
Zealand and even though albatross is need wind they have managed to get along with the doldrums and found a way to establish a home base near the equator these are waved albatross escorting on
Video examples
Best Of Oceans PIPE BBC...
currents their busy highways here in the doldrums famous for its become sailors the ocean sweepings stretch visibly for hundreds of miles
Video examples
My Country Will Be...
and I'm sure many of you understand that when you're on the equator, it's supposed to be in the doldrums. We're not supposed to get the cyclones. We create them, and then we send them either north or south. But they aren't supposed to come back. But for the first time, at the beginning of this year,
Video examples
Wings of the Albatross PIPE...
Zealand and even though albatross is need wind they have managed to get along with the doldrums and found a way to establish a home base near the equator these are waved albatross escorting on
Video examples
Best Of Oceans PIPE BBC...
currents their busy highways here in the doldrums famous for its become sailors the ocean sweepings stretch visibly for hundreds of miles
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Carl Paladino
American Politician
In the governments, as we've witnessed in the past, they had to hide. Because there's a lot of concentration on the friends-and-family club... We're not about that. That's not the government of the future of the State of New York. What's gonna pull this state out of the doldrums that it's in right now is an honest and open government.
Quote examples
Keegan-Michael Key
American Actor
Being a Lions fan is like being a Cubs fan: you just have to keep going. You don't have a choice. You can't give up, because one day, when it happens - and I believe it'll happen - then you can really savor it because you were there in the doldrums, and you get to be there in the victory.
Quote examples
John Podhoretz
American Writer
As a matter of policy, increasing taxes on the most economically productive group, which already generates 60 percent of the nation's federal revenues, during a sustained period of economic doldrums is a wretched idea.
Quote examples
Barbara Windsor
English Actress
I found myself in the doldrums in the early Nineties. I was too old to play the dolly bird any longer and I looked too young to play a woman of my real age. No one ever saw me as the aunt, mother or grandmother.
Quote examples
Jane Ridley
English Historian
Political biography is in the doldrums. No one wants to read 800 pages or so of cradle-to-grave dead politics, especially if it's familiar stuff and has all been written about before.
Quote examples
Brian Lara
Trinidadian Cricketer
When you succeed, you know, you can get swell-headed or you can be failing, and then you are all down in doldrums. So I try, as much as possible, to keep an even keel.
Quote examples
Hunter S. Thompson
American Journalist
February is always a bad month for TV sports. Football is gone, basketball is plodding along in the annual midseason doldrums, and baseball is not even mentioned.
Quote examples
Matt Bomer
American Actor
I don't know anybody who walks through life all the time in the doldrums, constantly serious and morose. But that's become what we generalize as drama.
Quote examples
Alan Hansen
Scottish Athlete
Manchester City have been in the doldrums for a while, they came up and went straight back down again.
Quote examples
Phyllis McGinley
American Author
A hobby a day keeps the doldrums away.
Quote examples
Carl Paladino
American Politician
In the governments, as we've witnessed in the past, they had to hide. Because there's a lot of concentration on the friends-and-family club... We're not about that. That's not the government of the future of the State of New York. What's gonna pull this state out of the doldrums that it's in right now is an honest and open government.
Quote examples
Keegan-Michael Key
American Actor
Being a Lions fan is like being a Cubs fan: you just have to keep going. You don't have a choice. You can't give up, because one day, when it happens - and I believe it'll happen - then you can really savor it because you were there in the doldrums, and you get to be there in the victory.
Quote examples
John Podhoretz
American Writer
As a matter of policy, increasing taxes on the most economically productive group, which already generates 60 percent of the nation's federal revenues, during a sustained period of economic doldrums is a wretched idea.
Quote examples
Barbara Windsor
English Actress
I found myself in the doldrums in the early Nineties. I was too old to play the dolly bird any longer and I looked too young to play a woman of my real age. No one ever saw me as the aunt, mother or grandmother.
Quote examples
Jane Ridley
English Historian
Political biography is in the doldrums. No one wants to read 800 pages or so of cradle-to-grave dead politics, especially if it's familiar stuff and has all been written about before.
Quote examples
Brian Lara
Trinidadian Cricketer
When you succeed, you know, you can get swell-headed or you can be failing, and then you are all down in doldrums. So I try, as much as possible, to keep an even keel.
Quote examples
Hunter S. Thompson
American Journalist
February is always a bad month for TV sports. Football is gone, basketball is plodding along in the annual midseason doldrums, and baseball is not even mentioned.
Quote examples
Matt Bomer
American Actor
I don't know anybody who walks through life all the time in the doldrums, constantly serious and morose. But that's become what we generalize as drama.
Quote examples
Alan Hansen
Scottish Athlete
Manchester City have been in the doldrums for a while, they came up and went straight back down again.
Quote examples
Phyllis McGinley
American Author
A hobby a day keeps the doldrums away.
Example 1 of 10
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