blues
The blues refers to a state of sadness, melancholy, or low spirits, often used with the definite article 'the'. It also denotes a genre of music originating in African American communities characterized by soulful, melancholic melodies and a specific chord progression.
Examples
3 of 5After the long holiday weekend, many employees struggle with the Monday morning blues.
Many workers feel sad and unmotivated when returning to work on Monday morning.
The patient exhibited symptoms consistent with the 'baby blues,' a common period of emotional volatility following childbirth.
The patient showed signs of temporary sadness and mood swings that often happen after having a baby.
I've really got the blues today because my best friend moved to another city.
I am feeling very sad today because my close friend moved away.
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Associate the color blue with the cold. Just as being cold makes you shiver and feel low, 'the blues' represents a 'cold' or low emotional state.
Quick Quiz
After the festive season ended, Sarah found it hard to shake off the post-holiday ______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: blues
Examples
After the long holiday weekend, many employees struggle with the Monday morning blues.
everydayMany workers feel sad and unmotivated when returning to work on Monday morning.
The patient exhibited symptoms consistent with the 'baby blues,' a common period of emotional volatility following childbirth.
formalThe patient showed signs of temporary sadness and mood swings that often happen after having a baby.
I've really got the blues today because my best friend moved to another city.
informalI am feeling very sad today because my close friend moved away.
Sociological studies suggest that 'winter blues' or Seasonal Affective Disorder can significantly impact community engagement.
academicResearch shows that sadness caused by the winter season can affect how much people participate in their community.
The sudden drop in stock prices gave the entire trading floor a severe case of the blues.
businessThe falling stock prices made everyone in the office feel very depressed and discouraged.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
feeling blue
feeling sad or depressed
the baby blues
a period of sadness or worry after giving birth
singing the blues
complaining about your situation
Often Confused With
'Blue' is the adjective for the color or the feeling, while 'the blues' is the noun for the state of sadness or the music genre.
Usage Notes
When referring to the emotion or the music, 'the blues' is almost always used with the definite article 'the'. Although it looks plural, it is often treated as a singular concept in terms of the music genre.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to use 'the' before 'blues'. They might also use 'blues' as an adjective (e.g., 'I am blues') instead of the correct 'I am feeling blue' or 'I have the blues'.
Memory Tip
Associate the color blue with the cold. Just as being cold makes you shiver and feel low, 'the blues' represents a 'cold' or low emotional state.
Word Origin
Derived from the 17th-century English phrase 'the blue devils,' which referred to intense melancholy or hallucinations.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
The Blues is a foundational music genre in American history, deeply rooted in the African American experience and influencing almost all modern popular music.
Quick Quiz
After the festive season ended, Sarah found it hard to shake off the post-holiday ______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: blues
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
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