leave someone high and dry: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘leave someone high and dry’ mean?
The idiom "leave someone high and dry" means to abandon or forsake someone in a difficult or helpless situation without any support or assistance.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "leave the ball in someone's court" means to give someone the responsibility or opportunity to take action or make a decision in a situation, often after one's own efforts or turn has been completed.
The idiom "leave something to be desired" means that something is not as good as it should be or as one would expect it to be.
The idiom "leave someone to their own devices" means to allow someone to do something in their own way, without interference or help from others.
The idiom "leave someone out in the cold" means to exclude or neglect someone, leaving them feeling alone, ignored, or abandoned.
The idiom "leave someone in the lurch" means to abandon or betray someone in a difficult or challenging situation, leaving them without any help or support.
The idiom "leave someone holding the baby" means to leave someone with a difficult or unexpected responsibility that they must deal with on their own.
The idiom "leave behind" means to forget or not bring something with you when you go somewhere. It can also mean to abandon or neglect someone or something.
The idiom "leave behind" is a well-known phrase in English that has various meanings and uses. Here is a comprehensive analysis of the idiom for a US audience.
The idiom "hold someone's feet to the fire" means to put pressure on someone or hold them accountable for their actions or words.
The idiom "hold someone's feet to the fire" is a commonly used expression in American English, often used to convey the idea of holding someone accountable for their actions or promises. It is believed to have originated in the early 17th century but has evolved in meaning over time.
The idiom "hit someone when they are down" means to take advantage of or attack someone when they are already in a vulnerable or weakened state.
"High and dry" is an idiom that means to be left in a difficult or helpless situation, especially without any assistance or support.
Clouded Abandonment
"leave someone high and dry" is a widely recognized idiom with a figurative meaning of abandoning or leaving someone in a difficult or helpless situation without any support or assistance. The phrase originated from the practice of leaving a ship's crew stranded on a sandbar or shoal at low tide, leaving them "high and dry" until the waters rose again.
This idiom can be used in a variety of contexts to describe situations where someone is left without the help or resources they need, making them feel stranded or helpless. For example, it can be used to describe a situation where a person is abandoned or betrayed by a trusted friend, leaving them without any support or assistance. It can also be used to describe situations where someone is left without the resources or assistance they need to complete a task or overcome a challenge.
The related idioms "high and dry" and "hang out to dry" are also worth mentioning. These idioms have similar meanings to "leave someone high and dry" and can be used interchangeably in many cases.
The idiom "high and dry" refers to being left in a difficult or vulnerable position without any help or resources. It can be used to describe a situation where someone is left without any assistance or support, making them feel stranded or abandoned.
The idiom "hang out to dry," on the other hand, suggests leaving someone in a difficult or vulnerable position without any help or support, especially when they are in need of assistance. It conveys the idea of someone being abandoned or left to deal with a challenging situation all on their own.
Both "high and dry" and "hang out to dry" are commonly used idioms that share similarities with "leave someone high and dry." These phrases are often used in everyday conversations and written texts to convey a sense of abandonment, helplessness, and the lack of support or assistance.
Overall, the idiom "leave someone high and dry" along with its related idioms "high and dry" and "hang out to dry" all convey the idea of abandoning or leaving someone in a difficult or helpless situation without any support or assistance. These idioms are widely used and understood in English-speaking contexts, and they provide a way to describe situations where someone is left stranded or without the resources they need to overcome a challenge.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "leave someone high and dry" can be used in a sentence:
- After promising to help her friend move, Sarah left him high and dry on moving day.
- The company suddenly closed down, leaving all of its employees high and dry without any severance pay.
- When the storm knocked out the power, the family was left high and dry with no electricity and no way to cook dinner.
More "Abandonment" idioms
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