leaving for dead
Abandoning without hope
Leaving for dead means abandoning someone in a condition so dire they're expected to die, or treating something as beyond recovery.
The phrase often appears as left for dead: The hikers found a climber who had been left for dead.
Figuratively, it describes overwhelming defeat or abandonment: The team left their rivals for dead in the second half.
- desertionUnlawful abandonment of duty
- revivalReturn after decline
- neglectFailure to provide care
- disregardWillful lack of attention
- written offRegarded as worthless
dismissal · culpability · betrayal · cold shoulder · isolation · hopelessness · abandonment · thrown to the wolves · injury · near death experience · life support · marginalization · survival instinct · against all odds · comeback · second chance · perseverance · vulnerability
leaving for deadsaving
Reserving for future use
rescuing · reviving · resuscitating · caring for · watching over
leave, leaving, leaves, leaver, leavers, dead, deadly, deaden, deadened