high and dry

The phrase "high and dry" originates from nautical contexts where ships were left stranded out of water.

🇺🇸 US Voice:

🇬🇧 UK Voice:

Definition

B2General

(idiomatic)Left without help or resources in a difficult situation.

Example

After the funding was cut, the project team was left high and dry.

C1Nautical

(technical)Stranded out of water, often referring to a ship that has run aground.

Example

The ship was left high and dry after the tide went out.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "high and dry":

home and dry run dry dried out dried up high ground hang out to dry dry spell dry out high up high and mighty dry market dry as a dead dingo's donger all wet on high dry up high water dry light hell or high water high and tight dry off cut and dried hot and high high centered well drain