Phrase guide

hang out to dry

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To abandon someone who is in need or in danger, especially a colleague or one dependent.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: leave someone hanging

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see hang, out, dry.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: أن تترك شخصا في حاجة — abandon someone in need
  • Chinese Mandarin: 遺棄 /遗弃 (yíqì) — abandon someone in need
  • Chinese Mandarin: 把某人坑苦了 (bǎ mǒurén kēngkǔ le) — abandon someone in need
  • Chinese Mandarin: 使某人處於困難 /使某人处于困难 (shǐ mǒurén chǔyú kùnnan) — abandon someone in need
  • Finnish: jättää oman onnensa nojaan — abandon someone in need
  • French: laisser en plan — abandon someone in need
  • German: im Regen stehen lassen — abandon someone in need
  • German: hängenlassen — abandon someone in need
  • Hebrew: נטש בעת צרה — abandon someone in need
  • Italian: stendere per asciugare — abandon someone in need
  • Polish: zostawić kogoś na lodzie — abandon someone in need
  • Portuguese: deixar na mão — abandon someone in need
  • Russian: оста́вить на произво́л судьбы́ (ostávitʹ na proizvól sudʹbý) — abandon someone in need
  • Spanish: desamparar — abandon someone in need