Sadness is a universal emotion, and the English language has a rich tapestry of idioms to express it. These phrases capture the nuances of feeling down, from quiet melancholy to deep despair.
Below, I’ve compiled 34 unique idioms for sadness, each with its meaning, an example sentence, and alternative ways to express the same sentiment. Whether you’re a language lover or just curious about how we talk about the blues, this list will resonate with you.
Let’s dive in with a human touch, exploring these expressions that give voice to our heavy hearts.
34 Idioms for Sadness
1. Down in the Dumps
Meaning: Feeling depressed or unhappy.
Example: Ever since she lost her job, Sarah’s been down in the dumps.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Feeling blue, down in the mouth, low-spirited.
2. Feeling Blue
Meaning: Experiencing mild sadness or melancholy.
Example: The rainy weather always makes me feel blue.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Downcast, gloomy, under the weather.
3. In the Doldrums
Meaning: A state of listlessness or low energy due to sadness.
Example: After the breakup, he was in the doldrums for weeks.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Slump, funk, low ebb.
4. Heavy Heart
Meaning: Deep sadness or emotional burden.
Example: She spoke with a heavy heart about her grandmother’s passing.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Sorrowful heart, aching heart, burdened soul.
5. Under the Weather
Meaning: Feeling slightly unwell or sad.
Example: I’ve been under the weather since hearing the bad news.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Off-color, out of sorts, downhearted.
6. Down in the Mouth
Meaning: Visibly sad or dejected.
Example: He looked down in the mouth after missing the winning shot.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Long-faced, glum, crestfallen.
7. Heart in One’s Boots
Meaning: Feeling extremely sad or discouraged.
Example: When the project failed, her heart was in her boots.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Devastated, crushed, disheartened.
8. Singing the Blues
Meaning: Expressing sadness or lamenting one’s troubles.
Example: He’s been singing the blues since his best friend moved away.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Woebegone, moaning, wallowing in sorrow.
9. In a Funk
Meaning: A state of depression or bad mood.
Example: She’s been in a funk since the argument with her sister.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Down, mopey, in a slump.
10. Low as a Snake’s Belly
Meaning: Feeling extremely low or depressed.
Example: After failing the exam, he felt as low as a snake’s belly.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Rock bottom, down and out, at wits’ end.
11. Broken-Hearted
Meaning: Overwhelmed by grief, often due to romantic loss.
Example: She was broken-hearted after the breakup.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Heartbroken, devastated, crushed.
12. Like a Wet Rag
Meaning: Feeling lifeless or emotionally drained.
Example: He moped around like a wet rag after the bad news.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Limp, deflated, spiritless.
13. In Low Spirits
Meaning: Feeling sad or lacking enthusiasm.
Example: The team was in low spirits after losing the championship.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Downhearted, dejected, dispirited.
14. At Wits’ End
Meaning: Feeling desperate or hopeless due to emotional strain.
Example: She was at wits’ end trying to comfort her grieving friend.
Alternative Ways to Say It: At the end of one’s rope, despairing, hopeless.
15. Down and Out
Meaning: Completely defeated or depressed, often with no hope.
Example: After losing everything, he felt down and out.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Destitute, rock bottom, defeated.
16. In the Pits
Meaning: Experiencing deep sadness or despair.
Example: She’s been in the pits since her dog passed away.
Alternative Ways to Say It: In a slump, down in the depths, miserable.
17. Woe’s Me
Meaning: An expression of self-pity or sorrow.
Example: “Woe’s me,” she sighed, feeling overwhelmed by her troubles.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Alas, poor me, oh my sorrows.
18. Long-Faced
Meaning: Displaying sadness through facial expression.
Example: He walked in long-faced after hearing about the cancellation.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Glum, somber-faced, downcast.
19. Crestfallen
Meaning: Disappointed or sad after a setback.
Example: She was crestfallen when her artwork didn’t win the prize.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Deflated, crushed, disheartened.
20. Out of Sorts
Meaning: Feeling slightly unwell or emotionally off-balance.
Example: I’ve been out of sorts since the argument yesterday.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Off-kilter, not oneself, out of whack.
21. Mope Around
Meaning: To move or act in a listless, sad manner.
Example: He’s been moping around since he didn’t get the promotion.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Sulk, brood, wallow.
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22. In a Blue Funk
Meaning: A state of deep sadness or depression.
Example: She’s been in a blue funk since her plans fell through.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Deeply down, melancholy, in a rut.
23. Have the Blues
Meaning: To feel sad or depressed.
Example: I always have the blues when summer ends.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Feeling down, sad, low.
24. Hangdog Expression
Meaning: A guilty or ashamed look due to sadness.
Example: He wore a hangdog expression after letting his team down.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Shamefaced, sheepish, dejected look.
25. Drown One’s Sorrows
Meaning: To try to forget sadness, often through drinking.
Example: He went to the bar to drown his sorrows after the loss.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Numb the pain, drink away troubles, wallow.
26. Heart on One’s Sleeve
Meaning: Openly showing one’s emotions, including sadness.
Example: She wears her heart on her sleeve, crying at every sad movie.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Emotionally open, transparent, expressive.
27. In a Rut
Meaning: Stuck in a monotonous or depressing situation.
Example: He felt in a rut after months of the same routine.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Stuck, in a slump, stagnant.
28. Cry One’s Eyes Out
Meaning: To cry intensely due to sadness.
Example: She cried her eyes out when her pet ran away.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Sob uncontrollably, weep buckets, bawl.
29. Like a Lost Soul
Meaning: Feeling aimless or deeply sad.
Example: He wandered like a lost soul after his dreams were crushed.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Adrift, forlorn, directionless.
30. On a Downward Spiral
Meaning: A worsening state of sadness or despair.
Example: Her life felt like a downward spiral after the divorce.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Spiraling down, sinking, declining.
31. Tearful
Meaning: Full of tears due to sadness.
Example: She gave a tearful goodbye at the airport.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Weepy, sobbing, emotional.
32. Sick at Heart
Meaning: Deeply saddened or emotionally pained.
Example: He was sick at heart hearing about the tragedy.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Heartbroken, anguished, sorrowful.
33. With a Lump in One’s Throat
Meaning: Feeling emotional or close to crying.
Example: She spoke with a lump in her throat at the memorial.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Choked up, emotional, teary.
34. In Despair
Meaning: A state of complete hopelessness or sadness.
Example: He was in despair after losing his home.
Alternative Ways to Say It: Hopeless, despondent, forlorn.
Why Idioms Matter
Idioms like these add color and depth to how we express sadness. They help us connect with others by painting vivid pictures of our emotions. Whether you’re feeling “down in the dumps” or “sick at heart,” these phrases offer a way to share your feelings with nuance. If you’re learning English or teaching it, practicing these idioms can make conversations richer and more authentic.
Try using these expressions in your writing or speech to convey sadness with flair. And if you want to test your knowledge, check out the interactive quiz below to practice these idioms!