What is high and dry?

High and Dry

"High and dry" is an idiom that describes a situation where someone is <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Abandoned">abandoned</a> or left without help, resources, or support, especially when they were expecting it. It implies a vulnerable and precarious position.

• Meaning: To be left in a difficult or helpless situation, often unexpectedly. It conveys a sense of isolation and lack of assistance.

• Origin: The phrase likely originated from nautical contexts, referring to a ship that is grounded during low tide and left exposed. The term "high" refers to the ship's elevated position due to grounding, and "dry" indicates the absence of water for flotation.

• Usage: It's commonly used in situations where someone is betrayed, let down, or left to fend for themselves. This is particularly applicable when there was a promise of support or assistance that was not fulfilled.

• Synonyms: Stranded, helpless, vulnerable, forsaken.

• Examples:

  • "After the company went bankrupt, many employees were left <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/High%20and%20Dry">high and dry</a>."
  • "The politician <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Abandoned">abandoned</a> his supporters, leaving them <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/High%20and%20Dry">high and dry</a> when the scandal broke."

In summary, "high and dry" indicates a state of being isolated, unsupported, and in a difficult situation, often due to the actions or inactions of others.