bleed

bleed someone dry

to take someone's money until most or all of it has gone. Repayments on the new furniture were bleeding me dry.

See also: dry

your heart bleeds

if your heart bleeds for someone who is in trouble, you feel sadness and sympathy for them. My heart bleeds for the poor children caught up in the fighting. (often + for) Brenda can't afford another diamond necklace? My heart bleeds!

See also: heart

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bleed someone/something dry

to use up everything someone or something has available. The city is losing money at a rate that eventually will bleed it dry. I'm worried that the medical bills will bleed my parents dry.

Etymology: based on the idea of a person losing so much blood that they die

See also: dry

bleed for someone/something

to suffer for someone or something. My father said that when he was in college he was a hopeless liberal who bled for causes.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of bleed for someone/something (= to be injured or killed while supporting an idea or protecting your country)

your heart bleeds (for someone)

you feel sadness and sympathy for someone. When my little girl cries in the night, my heart bleeds.

See also: heart