# leave someone high and dry

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/leave-someone-high-and-dry
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To abandon somebody; to stop providing assistance at a crucial moment.

## Examples

- My friend left me high and dry without any money.
- The company fired him suddenly, leaving him high and dry just before his rent was due.
- By withdrawing his financial support at the final hour, the investor left the struggling startup high and dry, forcing them to close their doors.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.