high and dry Idiom, Proverb
high and dry
1. Literally, dry and unaffected by water, typically flood waters. We get some pretty bad storms around here, but the levee has always left us high and dry, thank goodness.2. In a situation in which one has little chance of escaping or improving. You really left me high and dry when you forgot to pick me up last night. I had no way of calling or getting home! The departure of several key employees has left the business high and dry.See also: and, dry, highhigh and dry
Fig. safe; unbothered by difficulties; unscathed. (As if someone or something were safe from a flood. See also leave someone high and dry.) While the riot was going on down on the streets, I was high and dry in my apartment. Liz came out of the argument high and dry.See also: and, dry, highhigh and dry
Stranded, as in They walked out on the party, leaving me high and dry. This expression originally alluded to a ship that had run aground or was in dry dock. Its figurative use dates from the late 1800s. See also: and, dry, highhigh and dry
1 (especially of ships left stranded by the sea as the tide ebbs) out of the water. 2 in a difficult position, especially without resources. 2 1996 Frank McCourt Angela's Ashes I hear he left you high and dry, eh? I don't know how a man in his right mind can go off and leave a wife and family to starve and shiver in a Limerick winter. See also: and, dry, highˌhigh and ˈdry
in a difficult situation without help or money: When the travel company went bankrupt, many holidaymakers were left high and dry abroad or waiting at the airport.This expression refers to boats left on the beach after the level of the sea has fallen.See also: and, dry, highhigh and dry
mod. abandoned; unsupported. (Like a ship beached or stranded ashore.) Here I sit high and dry—no food, no money, no nothing. See also: and, dry, high high and dry
1. In a position of helplessness; stranded: went off and left me high and dry.
2. Nautical Out of water. Used of a ship, for example.See also: and, dry, highhigh and dry
Stranded. Originally this expression alluded quite literally to a ship that had run aground or was in dry dock. By the late nineteenth century it had begun to be used figuratively. See also out on a limb. John Galsworthy still was referring to the nautical source in Castles in Spain (1927): “A true work of art remains beautiful and living, though an ebb tide of fashion may leave it for the moment high and dry.”See also: and, dry, high
high and dry
stranded, out of the current of events They left him high and dry when they moved the company to Europe.
high and dry|dry|high
adv. or
adj. phr. 1. Up above the water; beyond the reach of splashing or waves.
Mary was afraid she had left her towel where the tide would reach it, but she found it high and dry. When the tide went out the boat was high and dry. 2. Without anyone to help; alone and with no help.
When the time came to put up the decorations, Mary was left high and dry. At first the other boys helped, but when the work got hard. Bob found himself high and dry. Compare: LEAVE IN THE LURCH, OUT IN THE COLD.
leave high and dry
Idiom(s):
leave sb high and dryTheme:
ABANDONMENT
to leave someone unsupported and unable to maneuver; to leave someone helpless.(Informal.)
• All my workers quit and left me high and dry.
• All the children ran away and left Billy high and dry to take the blame for the broken window.