Idioms to Express Sadness: Top 7 Idioms for Sadness That You Should Know!

It is essential to know how to convey your emotions when learning English as a second language. It will allow you to put your English vocabulary knowledge to use and interact with native English speakers more fluently. It is common to say that I’m feeling depressed or low when you’re sad, but there are better idioms that help you convey this feeling in a better way. Let’s discuss idioms for sadness.

Face Like a Wet Weekend

If a person has a face that looks like a wet weekend, it means they are wearing a sad expression and appear to be feeling miserable. This is because of the bad weather

Example: What’s wrong with him? He’s got a face like a wet weekend.

Feeling Blue/To Have Blues

This idiom has been used numerous times in songs and films. Blue is related to melancholy, depression, and an unpleasant mood. We can use the expression “feeling blue” to refer to ourselves or others, but the phrase “have the blues” refers to others.

Example: It seems that you are feeling blue. Is there something wrong that you would like to share with me?

Also Read: Idioms for IELTS

Lump in Your Throat

Lump in your throat idiom is used when you get a tight feeling in your throat because of strong emotion, especially sadness. When we watch a movie that evokes strong emotions we often experience a sensation in our throat that indicates we may be on the verge of tears.

Example: I had a huge lump in my throat as I watched my sister get on the plane.

Reduce to Tears

This idiom refers to causing someone so much sadness and despair that they start to cry.

Example: The movie’s ending reduced them to tears.

Also Read: Understanding Idioms: Examples and Meanings

Down in the Dumps

If you are down in the dumps, you are feeling very depressed and miserable. 

Example: He’s feeling a bit down in the dumps and needs cheering up.

Down in the Mouth

It derives from the fact that when a person is unhappy, the corners of the mouth are frequently turned down. This idiom is never applied to oneself. It is always used to describe someone else.

Example: She seems to be down in the mouth. Maybe she failed her interview.

Also Read: Rock the Boat

Take Something Hard

‘The phrase ‘take something hard’ is commonly used to express that an individual is deeply distressed due to a particular situation.

Example: Maybe she just took it too hard.

Also Read: Every cloud has a silver lining

These were all the idioms that can be used to express sadness. To read more about idioms you can check our page at Leverage Edu.