/esˈtaɾ poɾ los ˈswelos/ lit. ‘to be on the floors’
Spanish idiom, everyday. To feel low, gloomy or a bit depressed.
Draft Not yet checked by a native Spanish speaker.
How do people use Estar por los suelos
?
Everyday Spanish, fine in conversation and in the news. With people it usually comes with a word for spirits: “tengo la moral por los suelos” (my morale is on the floor) or “tiene el ánimo por los suelos”. On its own, “estar por los suelos” also describes prices, ratings or a reputation that has hit rock bottom, so the context tells you whether it’s about a mood.
Also said tener la moral por los suelos, tener el ánimo por los suelos, estar por el suelo
Estar por los suelos
in real sentences
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Con la moral por los suelos llego a la ciudad.
I arrive in the city with my morale on the floor.
Tatoeba, sentence by Stuhr, CC BY 2.0 FR
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El ánimo de la sociedad española está por los suelos en este momento.
Spanish society’s mood is at rock bottom right now.
Tatoeba, sentence by saverius, CC BY 2.0 FR
Where does Estar por los suelos
come from?
The picture is simple: whatever you’re talking about has dropped as low as it can go, right down on the floor. English Wiktionary glosses it as “at rock bottom” and points to the Real Academia dictionary, which lists “por el suelo, o los suelos”. We found no record of when it was first used for low spirits.
Mistakes learners make with Estar por los suelos
Using the singular article with the plural noun, as in “por el suelos”. It’s either “por los suelos” or the less common “por el suelo”, which the Real Academia dictionary lists as an equal option.
Other Spanish idioms like Estar por los suelos
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?
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