In the doldrums is a phrase that means dispirited, feeling listless or mildly depressed. In the doldrums has a maritime origin, the Doldrums is an area in the ocean that is situated north of the equator and between two belts of trade winds. The trade winds meet in the Doldrums and neutralize each other, leaving the area windless. A sailing ship may be stranded in the Doldrums for a long period of time, running out of supplies and patience, waiting for a wind to blow it further on its journey. The term has been appropriated into common language to mean listless, languishing in depression. Doldrum comes from the Old English word dol, meaning foolish, dull.
Examples
The Chinese government, which some analysts estimate has spent hundreds of billions of yuan buying stocks to stop the crash, is now left with a market in the doldrums. (The Wall Street Journal)
Nearly five years after the Port of San Diego debuted a gleaming new terminal to welcome the slew of ocean liners it anticipated would dock here, the local cruise industry remains stuck in the doldrums, still awaiting a promised rebound. (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
But the fundamental economy is in the doldrums, and the government data proves it. (The Economic Times)
But the debt deal would have bought the miner more time, a precious commodity when the coal market finds itself stuck in the doldrums, Inton said. (The Caspar Star-Tribune)
Experts hailed the breakthrough as one more step towards growing safer pig organs and said it would revive interest in xenotransplantation – transplants across species – that has languished in the doldrums for 15 years. (The Independent)
The lake remains in the doldrums, and the trout and king salmon action will not improve until the water cools. (The Sacramento Bee)