The Village Idiom

leave someone high and dry

The idiom "leave someone high and dry" means to abandon or forsake someone in a difficult or helpless situation without any support or assistance.

Filed under L

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.

Where it comes from and how it is used

"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 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.

Know an earlier use or a better origin story?Tell us.