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 deadwalking deaddead meatbe left at the postdead man walkingdead or alivedead and buriedcome back from the deaddo to deathbleed outdead in the waterwake the deadraise the dead