in low spirits

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'in low spirits' is correct and often used in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone who is feeling sad or depressed. For example, "After losing his job, he was in low spirits for weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The writer was in low spirits as he walked up Park Avenue on a cloudy, gray day.

The New Yorker

The New Yorker, November 28 , 1953P. 100 The writer was in low spirits as he walked up Park Avenue on a cloudy, gray day.

The New Yorker

Uwe Rösler's side could be forgiven for going into the new campaign in low spirits, but according to last season's top scorer, Clayton Donaldson, the Bees are buzzing.

The Guardian - Sport

If next year's projection of a 2.5% slump is right, Greece's economy will have shrunk by a frightening 14% over five years.The Greeks are in low spirits.

The Economist

O'Grady had saddled the horse in low spirits, having just seen Tranquil Sea run a lifeless race in the Drinmore Novices' Chase.

Independent

Bellow was in low spirits, recovering from the death of both of his brothers and the end of his fourth marriage, and they also took him to a concert of late Shostakovich quartets, to cheer him up.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Persistent feelings of tiredness, being worried, in low spirit or low mood were also inclusion criteria.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

"I was in very low spirits," she said.

The New York Times

After a year of daily 8 a.m. visits to a Freudian woman therapist, arranged for me by the official Freudian organisation, I was thrown out because I reported thinking (I thought in accordance to the Freudian rules) 'that women will never get anything out of me' … I was in very low spirits.

History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences

The piece, written by Jonathan Schell, begins with a personal "we": "Last week, we had a letter from a friend of ours, who, like so many other people, has been kept in something like low spirits for almost a decade by the war in Vietnam".

The New York Times - Arts

Depression must be distinguished from the grief and low spirits felt in reaction to the death of a loved one or some other unfortunate circumstance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "in low spirits", provide context to explain the reason for their sadness or dejection. This adds depth and understanding to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "in low spirits" when describing extreme cases of depression or mental health issues. The phrase suggests a temporary state of sadness rather than a clinical condition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in low spirits" functions as an adjective phrase describing a temporary emotional state. It modifies a noun (usually a person or group) to indicate they are feeling sad or dejected. This is consistent with Ludwig AI analysis and the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in low spirits" is a grammatically correct and neutrally registered adjective phrase used to describe a temporary state of sadness or dejection. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for describing someone's mood in various contexts, ranging from news reports to casual conversation. While semantically similar to terms like "feeling down" or "despondent", it is crucial to avoid using it in contexts that require describing severe or chronic mental health issues. The primary sources that feature the phrase include News & Media, Science, and Wiki, demonstrating its wide applicability across different types of content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unhappy

This alternative is a simple and direct way to express a lack of happiness.

feeling down

This alternative is more informal and focuses on a general sense of sadness or unhappiness.

depressed

This alternative is a more clinical term indicating a prolonged and serious state of low mood.

dejected

This alternative highlights a feeling of sadness and disappointment, often due to failure or loss.

downcast

This alternative emphasizes a gloomy or sad appearance.

despondent

This alternative suggests a loss of hope and a feeling of discouragement.

disheartened

This alternative focuses on the loss of enthusiasm or courage.

crestfallen

This alternative describes a feeling of disappointment and sadness, often after a setback.

gloomy

This alternative suggests a general state of unhappiness or pessimism.

melancholy

This alternative implies a pensive sadness, often with a touch of nostalgia.

FAQs

How can I use "in low spirits" in a sentence?

You can use "in low spirits" to describe someone's mood, such as, "After the game, the team was "in low spirits".".

What's a more formal way to say "in low spirits"?

While "in low spirits" is already relatively neutral, you could use "despondent" or "dejected" in more formal writing.

Are there any phrases with the opposite meaning of "in low spirits"?

Yes, phrases like "in high spirits", "cheerful", or "joyful" convey the opposite meaning.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "in low spirits"?

It might be inappropriate to use "in low spirits" when describing a severe or chronic mental health condition, as it may downplay the seriousness of the situation.