dismal /dizˈməl/

1. Gloomy
2. Dreary
3. Sorrowful
4. Lugubrious
5. Depressing
6. Of a very poor standard (informal)

1. Unlucky days (obsolete)
2. (with cap, usu in pl) a swamp (old US dialect)
3. A dismal person
4. (in pl) the dumps
5. (in pl) mournings (obsolete)

dismality /-malˈi-ti/ noun

disˈmally adverb

disˈmalness noun

dismal day noun (Spenser)

A day of ill omen

dismal Jimmy noun (informal)

A confirmed pessimist

• give someone her head
• give someone his due
• give someone his head
• give someone his kale through the reek
• give someone laldie
• give someone rope
• give someone stick
• give someone the bird
• give someone the bum's rush
• give someone the come-on
• give someone the finger
• give someone the lie
• give someone the lie in her throat
• give someone the lie in his throat
• give someone the pip
• give someone the slip
• give someone the works
• give something a miss
• give something a whirl
• give something up as a bad job
• give the air
• give the alarm
• give the bucket
• give the cold shoulder
• give the devil his due