Down in the dumps: The English We Speak

Neil: Hello, I'm Neil… but where is Feifei?

Feifei:… sorry I'm late! Is it time for

The English We Speak?

Neil: It is Feifei – but catch your breath

and have a seat. Are you ok? You look a

bit of a… mess!

Feifei: Me? A mess! You would be a mess

if you had been where I have been.

Neil: OK calm down… and what's that

smell?

Feifei: So you think I smell now! I've been

to the rubbish dump!

Neil: The rubbish dump?! Why did you go

there?

Feifei: Because I was looking for Rob

earlier and

someone said he was down in the dumps.

Neil: Feifei, that is the last place you will

find someone who is down in the dumps.

It's just a saying that describes someone

who is unhappy, fed up and sometimes

feels there is no hope.

Feifei: Oh I get it! Being depressed or

unhappy is a miserable feeling – a bit like

being at a rubbish dump, actually.

Neil: Exactly. Let's hear some examples…

Examples:

Don't be so down in the dumps, you're

going on holiday tomorrow!

Oh it's Monday again, no wonder I feel so

down in the dumps.

Reshma has been so down in the dumps

since her boyfriend left her.

Feifei: So that's being 'down in the dumps'

- feeling unhappy and miserable. So I've

had a wasted trip – but I wonder why Rob

is 'down in the dumps'?

Neil: It could be because his football team

lost... again.

Feifei: No, he’s used to that happening. It

must be something more serious than

that.

Neil: I know – he's feeling sad because

he's not presenting this wonderful

programme with you – it's such a great

script isn't it!

Feifei: There's only one place for this

script Neil – in the dump!

Neil: Ha ha, very funny!

Both: Bye.