leave someone high and dry

leave (one) high and dry

1. Literally, to allow one to remain dry and unaffected by water, typically flood waters. We get some pretty bad storms around here, but the levee has always left us high and dry, thank goodness.

2. To leave one in a situation in which one has little chance of escaping or improving. You really left me high and dry when you forgot to pick me up last night. I had no way of calling or getting home! The departure of several key employees has left the business high and dry.

See also: and, dry, high, leave

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

leave someone high and dry

COMMON If someone or something leaves you high and dry, they leave you in a difficult situation which you are unable to do anything about. I won't leave this club high and dry. I'll still be here at the end of the season. Schools with better reputations will be flooded with applications while poorer schools will be left high and dry. Note: The image here is of a boat which is left on a beach after the tide has gone out.

See also: and, dry, high, leave, someone

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012