😢 Down in the Mouth: A Journey to the Land of the Low-Spirited 😟

Dive deep into the world of clichés that capture our melancholic moments and expressions peppered with good-old wisdom and humor.

Down in the Mouth

Feeling blue? Down in the dumps? Or just plain ol’ down in the mouth? This phrase hails from the mid-seventeenth century and has been putting frowns on faces ever since it first appeared in Bishop Joseph Hall’s Cases of Conscience (1649). Turns out, even Roman Orators weren’t immune to sudden moods of doom when dealing with insidious moneychangers. Here’s your guide to expressions of melancholy and their goofy cousins. 😊😔

Synonyms

Sad
Unhappy
Dejected
Melancholy
Despondent

Antonyms

Cheerful
Euphoric
Delighted
Blissful
Joyful

Humor-Filled Quotes

“If it were not for the fact that I’d lost my sense of humor, I should have thought that I was funny.” – Charles Dickens

Down in the Dumps: Feeling particularly sorrowful, as though one’s spirits had fallen into the depths of a dump.
Low Spirits: Generally used in a variety of contexts where things just aren’t going well.
Feeling Blue: An age-old idiom reflecting sadness. Perhaps the sky is grey but your spirit stays blue.
Mope around: To wander aimlessly with an air of sadness and lethargy.

Proverbs

“Every cloud has a silver lining” – There’s always hope, even in grim times.
“It’s always darkest before the dawn” – The worst part of an experience may precede the beginning of improvement.

References in Literature, Books, Poetry, and Movies

Books:

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Movies:

Inside Out (2015) – A movie exploring various emotions, including sadness.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) – A dive into sorrow and the desire to erase painful memories.

Songs:

“Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton
“Someone Like You” by Adele

Poetry:

“A Shropshire Lad” by A. E. Housman
“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe

### Which phrase means "feeling very sad"? - [x] Down in the mouth - [ ] Over the moon - [ ] Tickled pink - [ ] On cloud nine > **Explanation:** "Down in the mouth" is a traditional way of saying someone is very sad, involving a droopy mouth — a visual and visceral marker of despair. ### What does "down in the dumps" refer to? - [x] Feeling very dejected or despondent - [ ] Getting physically stuck in the trash - [ ] Winning a lottery - [ ] Climbing a hilltop joyously > **Explanation:** "Down in the dumps" means feeling extremely downcast or disheartened, often like one's spirits have plummeted into a dump site. Not ideal, but a relatable human experience. ### True or False: 'Feeling Blue' is synonymous with 'down in the mouth.' - [x] True - [ ] False > **Explanation:** Both terms suggest a state of sadness or melancholia, with "blue" adding that uniquely colorful aspect to your emotional palette.

Let these phrases be your philosophical stowaways as you journey through life’s ups and downs. May the obscure knowledge of centuries-old clichés bring lightness to your heart and a smirk to your lips. Who knew sadness could be so delightfully educational?

Farewell, dear reader! Wishing you joy, or at the very least, the language of it to get you by.

With melancholic affection, B. A. Melancholia