Phrase guide

leave someone high and dry

verb · 1 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 somebody; to stop providing assistance at a crucial moment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • He just walked out and left her high and dry with two kids and a mortgage.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: çöldə qoymaq — Translations
  • German: hängenlassen — Translations
  • Greek: αφήνω αμανάτι (afíno amanáti) — Translations
  • Spanish: dejar tirado — Translations
  • Turkish: dımdızlak ortalıkta bırakmak — Translations