high and dry

adjective

1

: being out of reach of the current or tide or out of the water

2

: being in a helpless or abandoned position

Synonyms of high and dry

• helpless
• paralyzed
• weak
• incompetent

Examples of high and dry in a Sentence

the inadequate supplies of vaccine left many people high and dry when the flu season arrived

Recent Examples on the Web

New Year's bowl game upsets left several College Football Playoff favorites high and dry, and now, the semifinal opponents are set. —Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 2 Jan. 2026

It’s assumed that these robots will take over the work of employees, leaving humans high and dry—but Huang is optimistic that the tech will create new opportunities, especially for technicians. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2025

And, obviously, the Europeans feel like they’ve been totally left high and dry. —ABC News, 23 Nov. 2025

But now, thanks in part to Howard, some seem convinced the Nick Saban disciple could be enticed to take another offer and leave Texas high and dry. —Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for high and dry

• abscissae
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi
• certify