twisting in the wind
Publicly unsupported, exposed
Twisting in the wind means left in a state of prolonged uncertainty or public exposure, typically by those who should provide support.
The image is of someone hanged and abandoned—not yet dead, not yet rescued.
Politicians twist in the wind when their party refuses to defend them: The administration left him twisting in the wind for weeks before finally accepting his resignation.
- sufferExperience pain or distress
- languishWeaken through suffering
- in limboState of uncertainty
- limboState of uncertain waiting
- no man's landUnowned space between enemies
left to rot · adrift · high and dry · betrayed · thrown under the bus · writhing · waiting · contorting · abandoned · out on a limb · turning · hanging · left hanging · deteriorate · exposed · scapegoat · spiraling · untethered
twisting in the windbacked up
Reversed or copied
supported · defended · protected · stood by · having someone's back
twisting in the windsecure
Protected from harm
safe · grounded · on solid ground · stable · anchored
twisting in the windstill
Unmoving, or continuing
motionless · stationary · unmoved · at rest · becalmed
twist, twisting, twisted, twister, twisters, twists, winding, windier, windiest