hang out to dry

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hang out to dry (third-person singular simple present hangs out to dry, present participle hanging out to dry, simple past and past participle hung out to dry)

1. (transitive, idiomatic) To abandon someone who is in need or in danger, especially a colleague or one dependent.

   Synonym: leave someone hanging

   • 1989, Kurt Cobain (lyrics and music), “About a Girl”, in Bleach, performed by Nirvana:

     I'll take advantage while / You hang me out to dry

   • 2008 March 7, Joe Fiorito, “Our home-care system hangs families out to dry”, in Toronto Star‎, archived from the original on 2 December 2008:

     Without supplemental health insurance, we would have been hung out to dry.

   • 2011 January 25, Clare McNeil, “Don't hang young people out to dry”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:

     It's hard to avoid the conclusion that young people are being hung out to dry.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see hang,‎ out,‎ dry.

• Often carries an element of betrayal of someone who might have expected protection or assistance.
• The phrase paints a vivid picture of isolation and vulnerability.
• Journalists might use the term to describe public figures or entities that have been abandoned by their allies or supporters.

• twist in the wind
• hang out
• leave someone high and dry