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hang out to dry |
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hang someone out to dry Fig. to defeat or punish someone. The boss was really angry at Billie. He yelled at him and hung him out to dry. hang somebody out to dry to get someone into trouble, especially by making them take the blame for a bad situation When the department got into difficulties, his bosses simply hung him out to dry. hang somebody out to dry to not support or help someone After losing the election, the party is going to hang him out to dry. Etymology: based on the practice of hanging an animal that has been killed in a tree so its meat can dry How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Some anti-military liberals are ready to hang out to dry any troops caught up in civilian-casualty incidents, without understanding the impossible pressures under which these troops have been forced to serve--the enemy can be any man, woman, or child at any time; most attacks are by a faceless enemy placing roadside bombs; sectarian violence adds to the confusion; and many of the enemy look forward to dying. ``I left them to hang out to dry a little too long and try and find their own way back out of that morass, and they just couldn't find their way out. |
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