Doldrums

Meaning

The idiom "doldrums" refers to a state of stagnation, depression, or unproductivity. It can also mean a situation where nothing is happening or progress is slow. This idiom is derived from the nautical term "doldrums," which refers to a region near the equator where the wind is calm and sailing ships have difficulty moving.

Usage

• After several months of trying to start her own business, she realized that she was in a creative doldrums and decided to take a break.
• The company had been struggling for years, but after implementing new strategies, they finally broke out of the financial doldrums.
• She was feeling down and out when she realized she was in an emotional doldrums.
• After years of studying for the bar exam, he finally passed, breaking out of the legal doldrums.
• The city had been hit hard by the pandemic, but after months of lockdowns, they were finally starting to emerge from the economic doldrums.

Roots and History

The nautical term "doldrums" dates back to the 17th century and is believed to have originated from the Portuguese word "dolor," which means pain or suffering. The region near the equator where the wind is calm was named after this phrase due to the difficulties sailors faced in navigating through it. Over time, the term evolved into an idiom that refers to a state of stagnation or unproductivity.

Synonyms in English

• Stagnation
• Plateau
• Depression
• Rut
• Impasse

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "stagnation"
• Spanish: "plataforma"
• German: "Depression"
• Italian: "ruttura"
• Japanese: "圧力"

Similar Idioms

• die in harness

• deals with

• dog eat dog