“Leave someone high and dry” is an idiomatic expression that means to abandon someone in a difficult or helpless situation, often when they are expecting support or assistance. It conveys the idea of leaving someone stranded or without resources, especially at a critical moment. The phrase can also imply neglect or betrayal, as it typically describes situations where someone is left without any help or means to deal with their problems. The origin of the phrase is believed to come from the idea of leaving a ship stranded on a sandbank at low tide, rendering it immobile and unable to sail away.
Sample Sentences:
- After promising to help with the project, he left me high and dry without any warning.
- She felt abandoned when her friends left her high and dry during the crisis.
- The company’s sudden closure left hundreds of employees high and dry without severance pay.
- I can’t believe he would leave me high and dry after all we’ve been through together.
- When the business deal fell apart, they left him high and dry, without any alternatives.
- He walked out of the meeting, leaving his team high and dry without any answers.
- The sudden cancellation of the event left all the attendees high and dry, with no refunds.
- When the client failed to make the payment, they left the contractor high and dry in the middle of the job.
- She was left high and dry after her partner unexpectedly broke off their engagement.
- The weather turned stormy, and the boat was left high and dry as the tide went out.
Synonyms:
- Abandon
- Desert
- Leave stranded
- Leave helpless
- Forsake
- Leave in the lurch
- Dump
- Neglect
- Walk out on
- Leave behind
Antonyms:
- Support
- Assist
- Help
- Aid
- Stand by
- Offer a hand
- Stick with
- Stay loyal
- Help out
- Come to the rescue
Phrasal Verbs:
- Leave in the lurch (to abandon someone in a difficult situation)
- Bail out (to rescue someone from a difficult situation)
- Let down (to fail to support someone when they need help)
- Walk out on (to leave someone or something without warning or support)
- Desert (to abandon someone or something, often when they need help)
Idiomatic Expressions:
- Leave someone in the lurch (to abandon someone at a critical time, similar to leaving them high and dry)
- Leave someone out in the cold (to neglect or exclude someone from help or participation)
- Leave someone holding the bag (to leave someone responsible for a problem or situation while you escape it)
- Throw someone under the bus (to betray someone by leaving them to face the consequences of a difficult situation)
- Cut someone loose (to sever ties or abandon someone)
- Wash your hands of (to disown or abandon responsibility for someone or something)
- Leave someone stranded (to leave someone in a difficult or isolated situation)
- Leave someone in the dust (to abandon someone, leaving them far behind or in a worse position)
- Turn your back on (to reject or abandon someone)
- Let someone fend for themselves (to stop offering help, allowing someone to deal with a situation on their own)