at a low ebb
1
in a depressed, bad, or weakened state
The idiom "at a low ebb" originates from the concept of the ebb tide, which refers to the period when the tide is at its lowest point, signifying a state of decline or depression. The phrase is primarily used to describe a situation or a person's state of being when they are in a bad or weak condition, experiencing a low point or a downturn.
- Consumer confidence is currently at a low ebb due to economic uncertainties.
- After the loss of her job, her spirits were at a low ebb for several months.
- The team's morale was at a low ebb following a series of defeats.
- The company's profits were at a low ebb, prompting a strategic reassessment.
- During the recession, the country's economy was at a low ebb, leading to widespread hardship.