high and dry
1
(of a person) placed in a difficult situation with little or no resources or help
The idiom "high and dry" originally referred to ships being stranded or left aground on land when the tide recedes, leaving them in a vulnerable and exposed position. Figuratively, it is used to describe a situation where someone is left without help, support, or assistance, often in a difficult or unfavorable circumstance.
- The bottom line was that I was high and dry.
- The inadequate supplies of vaccine left many people high and dry when the flu season arrived.
- When her friends abandoned her during the hike, she was left high and dry in the wilderness.
- The sudden closure of the company left many employees high and dry without jobs or a source of income.
- His decision to invest all his savings in a risky venture left him high and dry when it failed.