dry spell

English[edit]

Originated around 1885–1890, from dry +‎ spell (“a period of time”). Compare cold spell.

dry spell (plural dry spells)

A drawn-out period where the weather has been dry, for an abnormally long time; shorter and not as severe as a drought.
- 1989, Christopher Ward, David Tyson (lyrics and music), “Black Velvet”, performed by Alannah Myles:
  Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell / Jimmy Rogers on the Victrola up high
- 1996, M.G. Vassangi, The Book Of Secrets, page 74:
  The rains, it seemed, were over, and a dry spell was upon them […]
- 2003, Denise Gess, William Lutz, Firestorm at Peshtigo, page 42:
  The only place unaffected by the persistent dry spell was the city of Milwaukee […]
(figurative) A period or time where there is little activity, productivity, low income etc.
- 1970, Gabriel H. L. Jacobs, When children think, page 31:
  The first type is of course the dry spell when you can't think of any ideas. The second type is when kids just have a dry spell in writing.
(figurative) A period of time without sexual intercourse.
- 2007, Elina Furman, Kiss and Run, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 87:
  There's no telling when the serial dating bug can strike. You may be just getting out of a serious relationship, marriage, or long dry spell. But one thing's for certain: when it does it can become a really hard habit to break.