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

The unofficial end of summer left some boaters in Minnesota high and dry over Labor Day weekend. — Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

While the official logline for Tracker‘s fourth season hasn’t been released, fans can expect to witness the fallout from Russell’s decision to leave Colter high and dry at the end of season 3. — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026

Lil Wayne is feeling remorseful after leaving fans in Maine high and dry. — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 2 July 2026

The drought that has plagued much of the Chesapeake Bay’s watershed during the first half of this year is causing strains to drinking water supplies, hurting crop output and leaving many rafters and boaters high and dry. — Jeremy Cox, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for high and dry

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