hang (one) out to dry
To desert one in a troubling situation. He says he's my friend, but then he totally hung me out to dry in that meeting! Not one word of support as the boss tore into me! We really hung our goalie out to dry—that's how the other team was able to score five goals in the first 10 minutes. You said you'd help me put the kids' toys together, but then you hung me out to dry on Christmas Eve! I had to do everything by myself—where were you?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
hang out to dry
Abandon someone to danger, as in The squadron withdrew and just let us hang out to dry. This expression alludes to hanging wet laundry on a clothesline. [Slang; 1960s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.