ETYMOLOGY: In the olden days when a sail-powered vessel hit a calm region of the ocean, it could be stuck there for days. Sailors called that area the doldrums. The word is from Old English dol (dull, stupid), the ending influenced by the word tantrum.
How did doldrums get their name?
The “doldrums” is a popular nautical term that refers to the belt around the Earth near the equator where sailing ships sometimes get stuck on windless waters. … That is why sailors well know that the area can becalm sailing ships for weeks. And that’s why they call it the doldrums.
What does stuck in the doldrums mean?
In the doldrums is a phrase that means dispirited, feeling listless or mildly depressed. … A sailing ship may be stranded in the Doldrums for a long period of time, running out of supplies and patience, waiting for a wind to blow it further on its journey.
What does the word doldrum mean?
a : a spell of listlessness or despondency : blues. b : a state of bafflement : quandary. 2 archaic : a sluggish or slow-witted person. 3 doldrums plural. a : a region over the ocean near the equator abounding in calms, squalls, and light baffling winds.How did sailors get out of the doldrums?
The entire Doldrums Corridor is 10 degrees, from 13 degrees North to 3 degrees North and within this, teams can elect to use their engine and motor-sail for six of those degrees to escape the no wind area.”
Was there a doldrums?
1. Depressed or in low spirits; lethargic, sluggish, or lacking energy. I’ve been in the doldrums ever since my grandfather died last month.
Where are doldrums located?
The Doldrums are located a little north of the equator, but the effects can be felt from 5 degrees north of the equator to 5 degrees south of it. The trade winds border the Doldrums both to the north and south. Then there are the prevailing westerlies in the higher latitudes and the polar easterlies near both poles.
What are examples of doldrums?
Doldrums is defined as a gloomy feeling, low spirits or a time of inactivity. An example of doldrums is being stuck in the house during a week long snow storm.What are two synonyms for doldrums?
- abeyance,
- cold storage,
- deep freeze,
- dormancy,
- holding pattern,
- latency,
- moratorium,
- quiescence,
Break ‘doldrums’ down into sounds: [DOL] + [DRUHMZ] – say it out loud and exaggerate the sounds until you can consistently produce them. Record yourself saying ‘doldrums’ in full sentences, then watch yourself and listen.
Article first time published onWhat does it mean to drop a bombshell?
Definition of drop a bombshell : to surprise everyone She dropped a bombshell when she said she wouldn’t run for reelection.
What is breaking the ice?
To remove the tension at a first meeting, at the opening of a party, etc.: “That joke really broke the ice at the conference; we all relaxed afterward.”
What are the doldrums in The Phantom Tollbooth?
The Doldrums is a place within the lands beyond the tollbooth. It is where Lethargarians live and do nothing all day. People who don’t think and/or don’t pay attention often get stuck there. It is a cloudy place in the countryside which has hardly any trees or flowers.
Which of the following belt is called doldrum?
Doldrums, also called equatorial calms, equatorial regions of light ocean currents and winds within the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), a belt of converging winds and rising air encircling Earth near the Equator.
How wide is the doldrums?
The doldrums, or ITCZ, are located roughly at the Equator, but they also migrate with the seasons. They are 50 to 250 miles wide, so the rain produced by the rising air is significant. In the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, the doldrums migrate as far as 25 degrees north latitude up to southern Asia.
How did horse latitudes get their name?
Unable to sail and resupply due to lack of wind, crews often ran out of drinking water. To conserve scarce water, sailors on these ships would sometimes throw the horses they were transporting overboard. Thus, the phrase ‘horse latitudes’ was born.
What latitude are the doldrums?
Calm winds, warm temperatures and very convective thunderstorms are used to describe the doldrums. Located at zero degrees latitude, also known as the equator, you will find this described area over the ocean.
What is it called when there is no wind?
Doldrums – zone of no wind at equator, zone of intense rain (rising air) Horse latitudes – zone of no wind about 30 degrees north and south of the Equator, no rain (sinking air)
How do you use the word doldrums?
1 : a spell of sadness I tried to cheer her of her doldrums. 2 : a period of no activity or improvement Her business was in the doldrums.
What are the characteristics of the doldrums?
Doldrums is a natural phenomenon that happens near the equator. In addition, it is an oceanic belt that circles around the globe. The region has low atmospheric pressure and lack of a significant amount of wind. Also, the weather in the region is cloudy and rainy.
What is a bombshell girl?
etymology slang. Bombshell is a term used to describe very attractive women, similar to the term “sex symbol”.
Why was the writer always defending Chief Dende?
(a) The writer was always defending Chief Dende because he believed he would never keep any secret from him or He thought he knew everything about him.
What does full of yourself means?
Conceited, self-centered, as in Ever since she won the prize Mary’s been so full of herself that no one wants to talk to her. This expression uses full of in the sense of “engrossed with” or “absorbed with,” a usage dating from about 1600.
What is the meaning of idiom a man of straw?
[British, formal] a man who does not have the ability or the courage necessary to carry out a particular task or to fulfil a particular role. Either he is a brave and principled national leader or he is a man of straw who does not deserve to win the next election. Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary.
What is the meaning of idiom once in a blue moon?
Once in a blue moon: This poetic phrase refers to something extremely rare in occurrence. A blue moon is the term commonly used for a second full moon that occasionally appears in a single month of our solar-based calendars.
What is the meaning of break a deadlock?
To bring to an end a stalemate, impasse, or standstill. The efforts of the United Nations have finally succeeded in breaking the deadlock between the warring countries. His late-game goal finally broke the deadlock and put his team in the lead.
What fueled the car leaving the doldrums?
What fueled the car leaving the Doldrums? The car was fueled by Milo using his brain; thoughts.
Why do you think were the creatures called Lethargarians?
In the book, Milo encounters the Lethargarians, who live in the Doldrums. The author, Norton Juster, named these creatures well. The word lethargy means the condition of being dull, lazy, or un-energetic.
Who sent Milo the tollbooth?
Azaz sends Milo on a mission to rescue two princesses, Rhyme and Reason, who are imprisoned in the Castle in the Air, which floats hundreds of feet off the ground.
Why is the Doldrums region relatively calm and rainy?
This areas location means that it has relatively low pressure, the northeast and southeast trade winds converge here and it encircles the thermal equator all which make it relatively calm and rainy.
