ENGLISH
REFERENCE

high and dry

idiom
Meaning

Abandoned, stranded, helpless.


Examples
SIMPLE

My car broke down and left me high and dry.

CONTEXTUAL

When my business partner quit without notice, he left me high and dry with all the work.

COMPLEX

The sudden collapse of the travel agency left hundreds of tourists high and dry in a foreign country without any way to return home.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    come hell or high water

    Regardless of the hardships; no matter what difficulties may arise.

  2. 02

    dry behind the ears

    Seasoned or experienced; mature, especially with respect to judgment.

  3. 03

    dry eye

    An eye which is not crying, i.e. someone emotionally unmoved.

  4. 04

    Dry January

    A popular health challenge where a person abstains from alcohol for the entire month of January.

  5. 05

    dry one's eyes

    To cease crying.

  6. 06

    dry out

    To (cause to) sober up; to cease to be drunk; to quit using drugs or alcohol.

  7. 07

    dry run

    A practice or rehearsal; especially, one that goes through all the motions of a physical process but without the raw material or workpiece present.

  8. 08

    dry up and blow away

    To go away; to disappear.

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