feel down

/fiːl daʊn/

phrasal verb★Intermediate◆phrasal verb

◆ What It Really Means

To experience sadness or low spirits

¶ Literal Meaning

To physically sense or touch something that is in a lower position

Literal Breakdown

feelTo touch or sense something+downIn a lower position or direction

◇ Mental Image

The phrase evokes the image of being in a low or depressed state, as if one's spirits have physically dropped.

◈ When to Use

A friend might say, 'I’ve been feeling down lately because of work stress,' to express their temporary sadness.

◉ Cultural Note

This phrase is widely used in English-speaking cultures to describe temporary emotional states, often in informal settings.

informal

To feel sad, depressed, or low in spirits

After failing the exam, she felt down for days.

After losing his job, he felt down and unsure about the future.

💡

This phrase is commonly used to express temporary sadness or disappointment.

Collocations

feel down aboutTo feel sad or disappointed about something specificfeel down forTo feel sympathetic or concerned for someone

cheer upphrasal verb

To become or make someone happier

brighten upphrasal verb

To become or make something more cheerful

Use 'feel down' to describe temporary sadness or disappointment, often in casual conversations.

While 'feel down' is common, avoid using it excessively in formal writing or professional settings.

The phrase 'feel down' combines the verb 'feel' with the adverb 'down,' which conveys a sense of sadness or low spirits.

This phrase is informal and commonly used in casual conversation to describe temporary feelings of sadness or disappointment.

feel

To experience a sensation or emotion

verb

down

In a low or sad state

adverb

English Dictionary