Meaning
A stretch of time without rain — a mini-drought that dries out the land, lowers the rivers and catchments, and stresses the crops and livestock, even during what should be a rainy time. In a long 'dry spell' the standpipe may run low and the trucks bring water. Figuratively, a 'dry spell' can also mean a lean patch when money, work, or luck isn't flowing.
Examples
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Di crop suffer inna di dry spell.
The crops suffer in the dry spell.
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Wi buy water from di truck inna di dry spell.
We buy water from the truck in the dry spell.
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Business slow, wi inna a dry spell.
Business is slow; we're in a lean patch.
Origin
From 'dry' + 'spell' (a period); a rainless stretch/mini-drought. See [[dry-weather]], [[water-truck]].
How it’s used
A rainless stretch/mini-drought; figuratively a lean patch. See [[dry-weather]], [[water-truck]].