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essere a terra
/ˈɛs.se.re a ˈtɛr.ra/◆idiom
to be down in the dumps
Dopo la sconfitta, la squadra era a terra.
After the defeat, the team was down in the dumps.
informal
To feel extremely sad, discouraged, or emotionally defeated.
Dopo aver perso il lavoro, Marco era a terra per settimane.
After losing his job, Marco was down in the dumps for weeks.
Quando ho saputo della notizia, sono rimasto a terra.
When I heard the news, I was completely down in the dumps.
Often used to describe a state of deep sadness or emotional collapse, not physical exhaustion.
Collocations
rimanere a terrato remain down in the dumpsbuttare a terrato devastate emotionally
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Contextual Clues
Listen for emotional cues in conversation. If someone says 'sono a terra,' they are likely expressing sadness, not physical exhaustion.
Gold Rule
Idiom vs. Literal Meaning
Never confuse 'essere a terra' with its literal meaning ('to be on the ground'). The idiomatic meaning is purely emotional.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'essere' (to be) with 'a terra' (on the ground). The idiomatic meaning likely derives from the metaphor of being metaphorically 'knocked to the ground' by life's difficulties, evoking a sense of defeat or collapse.
Usage Notes
This idiom is commonly used in informal contexts to express profound sadness or emotional exhaustion. It is not used for physical tiredness.
Word Breakdown
essere
to be
verba terra
on the ground
prepositional phraseDizionario Italiano-Inglese