hangs out to dry
Leaves without support
To hang someone out to dry is to abandon them in a difficult situation, leaving them to face consequences alone.
The image is of laundry left exposed—vulnerable and forgotten.
When the scandal broke, his allies hung him out to dry.
The phrase implies betrayal by those who should have offered support or protection.
- laundryItems needing cleaning
- dirty laundryEmbarrassing private matters
- washing lineCord for drying laundry
- abandonLeave behind permanently
- forsakeAbandon completely
clothesline · line · sun · scapegoat · left in the lurch · fair weather friend · betray · thrown under the bus · vulnerability · sheet · desert · unprotected · strand · defenseless · damp · exposure · sock · precariousness
hangs out to drystands by
Supports or awaits action
has someone's back · supports · backs up · defends · stands up for
hangs out to dryfalls on one's sword
Accept responsibility, often resigningly
hang, hangs, hanging, hanger, hangers, hangout, hangouts, outing, outings