desert (someone or something) to (someone or something)

desert (someone or something) to (someone or something)

To leave or abandon someone or something to someone or something else. We can't desert Timmy to his grandmother—you know that vile woman can't be trusted! In order to pay the mortgage on my manse, I had to desert several of my jewels to auction. At least my neighbors deserted their cat to me so he didn't have to go to an animal shelter.

See also: desert, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

desert someone or something to someone or something

to abandon someone or something to someone or something; to let someone or something have someone or something. Who deserted this child to her horrible fate? Sam deserted his land to the horde of grubby prospectors.

See also: desert, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.