Phrase guide

have the blues

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To be depressed; to have low morale; to feel sad.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • I've had the blues ever since my sweetheart left.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 感到憂傷 /感到忧伤 (gǎndào yōushāng) — be depressed
  • French: avoir le cafard — be depressed
  • French: broyer du noir — be depressed
  • Japanese: 憂鬱である (yūutsu de aru) — be depressed
  • Russian: тоскова́ть (toskovátʹ) — be depressed
  • Russian: грусти́ть (grustítʹ) — be depressed