in low spirits
1
3.9
- idiom
- The man explained that this was impossible, and his reply left the prisoner in low spirits for several days.
Examples
-
She remained in low spirits for some weeks, contemplating the dismal present.
Fiction book (1994) -
After receiving the disappointing news, he was in low spirits throughout the day.
-
She felt in low spirits because her favorite team had lost the match.
-
The gloomy weather left everyone in low spirits as they walked to work.
Synonyms
445
3.5
Feeling very sad and without hope
224
6.7
Feeling sad or unhappy
95
1.0
Feeling sad or without energy
67
3.4
Feeling less confident and hopeful because of problems
32
5.9
Feeling or showing deep sadness
29
2.5
Feeling sad and without much hope
22
4.1
Looking or feeling sad and quiet
16
7.7
Feeling very sad and without hope about the future
15
5.2
Feeling sad and lacking confidence to keep trying
12
4.2
Feeling less hopeful and confident after a disappointment
11
4.4
Feeling sad and quiet without much energy
10
4.5
Feeling very sad and not hopeful
8
4.6
Feeling less confident and hopeful after a disappointment
7
5.4
Feeling sad and without hope
6
5.8
Feeling sad and low
4
4.4
Feeling sad and not very hopeful
3
4.7
Feeling sad and without much hope
2
4.1
Feeling sad and without much hope
1
6.0
Showing little energy and no enthusiasm
1
5.1
Feeling sad and without much energy
Feeling a little sad or down
Antonyms
How Sad
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'in' (a locative/state preposition) with 'low' (downcast) modifying 'spirits' (mood/energy), so the meaning 'feeling sad or lacking enthusiasm' is directly derivable from the constituents. This compositional pattern (low mood) is cross-linguistically common and follows normal English adjective+noun state expression, so a B1 learner who knows the words will readily understand it.
Etymology
In low spirits comes from the simple image of someone's spirits (their mood or energy) being low, as if their energy has gone down. So, it means 'feeling sad or without much energy'.