From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishspiritsspirits[plural]FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETCMOOD the way someone feels at a particular time, for example if they are happy or sad → moodbe in good/high spirits (=be excited and happy) Cooper was still in high spirits after winning the race. His spirits were so low (=he was so sad) that he refused to answer his phone.raise/lift somebody’s spirits (=make someone happier) The warm morning sun lifted our spirits. She wrote poetry while she was in the hospital to keep her spirits up (=keep happy).somebody’s spirits rise/lift/sink (=they become more or less happy) My spirits sank when I saw the mess they’d left. → spirit
Examples from the Corpus
keep ... spirits up• He had a strong sense of humour, and kept his spirits up.• During the war years, it helped keep our spirits up and we need it again now.• I told Tansy that she must keep her spirits up, that Rose might be needing her. 