Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a depressing, worrying situation.

1860		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. (2nd edn).
1959		‘Paul Merchant’ ‘Sex Gang’ in Pulling a Train’ (2012) [ebook] The thought of Pinchy being hugged in wedlock was such a downer.
1968		T. Wolfe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1969) 382: ‘Cops,’ says Mountain Girl in total disgust [...] Only a momentary downer, however.
1977		C. McFadden Serial 32: The news was still a downer, though.
1989		T. Blacker Fixx 63: This was a downer, and no mistake.
1993		I. Welsh Trainspotting 120: Another total downer is being skint.
2004		P. Howard PS, I Scored the Bridesmaids 71: Melissa is [...] trying to start my year off on a downer.
2007		R. Milward Apples (2023) 152: [T]he night I lost my keys was a bit of a downer.
2012		J. Fagan Panopticon (2013) 65: I didnae mean tae put you on a downer. Sorry.
2018		I. Welsh Dead Man’s Trousers 86: The downer? [...] You dinnae get the lows, but ye sure as fuck miss the euphoria ay the highs.
2024		J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 298: Thinking about the treachery thing was a bit of a downer.

2. a depressing person.

1970		Harper’s Mag. Mar. 69: Depressing people were ‘downers,’ a bad experience was a ‘bummer’.
1975		G. Underwood ‘Razorback Sl.’ in AS L:1/2 58: downern Event or person that depresses one.
1984		J. Ellroy Because the Night 179: ‘I hate to be a downer [...] but I just heard some bad news’.
1998		K. Sampson Awaydays 6: He’s a fucking downer when he’s like this, Elvis.
2008		D. Sedaris When You’re Engulfed in Flames 89: He was a downer [...] Living with someone like that, I’d go crazy.

3. a state of depression, also attrib.; often as on a downer.

1970		D. Mitchell Thumb Tripping (1971) 129: You know booze is a downer.
1978		A. Maupin Tales of the City (1984) 117: I get on downers [...] Depressed. Bummed out.
1983		J. Byrell (con. 1959) Up the Cross 138: Kev the Kidder was on a downer.
1996		J. Byrell Lairs, Urgers & Coat-Tuggers 149: [He] was the last person likely to interrupt or interfere with a bloke who might be in the depths of a downer and wanting nothing more than plain privacy.
1996		J. Byrell Lairs, Urgers & Coat-Tuggers 71: [H]e’d never - before or after - felt the impact of so many heavy ‘downer vibes’ on a racecourse.
1998		Guardian 5 Dec. 🌐 We’re back to reality but we’re not on a downer because we’ve done ourselves proud.
2001		K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 37: I’ve felt the lowie coming on and now it’s pure crashing down on us, a fucking murderous black downer.
2012		(con. 1980s) I. Welsh Skagboys 116: The sickening downer as the train crept closer tae hame.
2020		G. Armstrong Young Team 88: It’s the first day back n everywan is in a pure downer.

4. attrib. use of sense 3.

2005

A. Lovejoy Acid Alex 253: I want to get this downer part of the story over with. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.