leave for dead
The phrase "leave for dead" is often used in both literal and figurative contexts to describe abandonment in dire situations.
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Definition
B2General
(literal)To abandon someone who is critically injured or incapacitated, assuming they will not survive.
Example
- The rescuers found the hiker who had been left for dead after the storm.
- He was left for dead in the aftermath of the battle, but miraculously survived.
B2General
(figurative)To disregard or neglect someone or something, considering them beyond recovery or hope.
Example
- The company was left for dead after the financial crisis, but it managed to recover.
- Many thought his career was over and left him for dead, but he made a remarkable comeback.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "leave for dead":
living deadleave behindleave overdrop deadplay deaddead meatbe left at the postdead man walkingdead or alivedead and buriedcome back from the deaddo to deathbleed outdead in the waterraise the dead