a downer

Meanings

1. 1nounsingularinformal

   Something that makes you feel sad, tired, or less hopeful.

   Grammar: Used with 'a' and usually after 'be' or 'feel like': That news was a real downer.

   Patterns

   • be a downer
   • a real downer
   • a bit of a downer

   The gray weather and the bad news made the whole day a downer.

   Losing the final match was a real downer for the team.

   Don't be such a downer — we can still fix this.

2. 2nouncountableinformal

   A drug that calms you down or makes you sleepy.

   Grammar: Countable, often plural: The doctor gave him downers to help him sleep.

   Patterns

   • take a downer
   • prescribe downers

   Some people use downers to relax, but they can be dangerous.

   The label warns that mixing alcohol with downers is risky.

Word forms

Common combinations

a real downer

Hearing that the trip was canceled was a real downer.

a bit of a downer

The ending of the film is a bit of a downer.

be on a downer

She's been on a downer since her dog got sick.

bring someone down / be a downer

Try not to be a downer at the party.

Synonyms and how they differ

disappointment

More neutral and formal; a downer is informal and focuses on the low mood it causes.

bummer

Very informal and mainly American; similar in tone but often used for small annoyances.

depressant

The medical word for the drug sense; a downer is the everyday term.

Opposites

Word family

down adjective

Feeling sad or low: I've been feeling a bit down lately.

downhearted adjective

Sad and without hope; more literary than 'down'.

Commonly confused: a downer or downer?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “a downer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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