Dry spell Meaning in English

expression

US

UK

Definition

A 'dry spell' is a period of time when there is no rain, or when there is little or no activity, progress, or success.

Usage & Nuances

Primarily informal; used both literally for climate and figuratively for any pause in progress (work, creativity, sports, etc.). Common collocations: 'go through a dry spell', 'hit a dry spell', 'end a dry spell'. Not used for extreme drought (which is more severe).

• Spanish: racha seca - período sin lluvia - época de sequía (figurado: período sin actividad)
• Portuguese (BR): período de seca - intervalo seco - fase sem chuvas (figurado: fase sem atividade)
• Portuguese (PT): período seco - intervalo sem chuva - fase de seca (figurado: fase sem atividade)
• Chinese (Simplified): 干旱期 - 无雨期 - 低迷期（比喻：没有进展的时期）
• Chinese (Traditional): 乾旱期 - 無雨期 - 低靡期（比喻：沒有進展的時期）
• Hindi: सूखा पड़ाव - बिना बारिश का दौर - सूखी अवधि (प्रतीकात्मक: निष्क्रिय समय)
• Arabic: فترة جفاف - فترة بدون مطر - فترة ركود (مجازي: فترة بدون نشاط)
• Bengali: খরা - স্থবিরতা (অগ্রগতি বা সফলতায় বিরতি)
• Russian: засуха - период без активности
• Japanese: 日照り続き - スランプ
• Vietnamese: thời kỳ khô hạn - thời gian trì trệ
• Korean: 가뭄 - 슬럼프(활동·성과 부진 기간)
• Turkish: kuraklık dönemi - durgunluk dönemi
• Urdu: خشک سالی - جمود (کامیابی یا سرگرمی کی کمی)
• Indonesian: musim kemarau - masa mandek

Example Sentences

After two weeks without rain, we are having a dry spell.

basic

The team finally won a game after a long dry spell.

basic

Farmers worry when there is a dry spell in the summer.

basic

I've had a dry spell at work lately—nothing exciting has happened in weeks.

natural

Writers often struggle with a dry spell when ideas just won't come.

natural

Don't worry, everyone goes through a dry spell now and then.

natural