hang out to dry

hang out to dry
   American
   to be exposed publicly to protect others
   Left on the washing line:
    Mitchell and Dean gave him assurances that he wouldn't be left to hang out to dry. (Colodny and Gettlin, 1991)
   Whence a hang-out, such a stratagem:
    Is it too late to go the hang-out road? (ibid. — Nixon was asking if his accusers might be bought off by sacrificing one White House witness)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • hang out to dry — If you hang someone out to dry, you abandon them when they are in trouble …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • hang out to dry — hang (someone) out to dry to not support or help someone. After losing the election, the party is going to hang him out to dry. Etymology: based on the practice of hanging an animal that has been killed in a tree so its meat can dry …   New idioms dictionary

  • hang out to dry — phrasal : to leave stranded in a hopeless or dangerous situation * * * hang (someone or something) out to dry see hang out at ↑hang, 1 • • • Main Entry: ↑dry …   Useful english dictionary

  • hang out to dry —    If you hang someone out to dry, you abandon them when they are in trouble.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • Hang out to dry —   If you hang someone out to dry, you abandon them when they are in trouble …   Dictionary of English idioms

  • hang out to dry — verb a) To attach washing to a clothesline to dry. Without supplemental health insurance, we would have been hung out to dry. b) To abandon someone who is in need or in danger, especially a colleague or one dependent …   Wiktionary

  • hang out to dry — phrasal to subject to ruin by abandonment …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hang someone out to dry — hang (someone) out to dry to not support or help someone. After losing the election, the party is going to hang him out to dry. Etymology: based on the practice of hanging an animal that has been killed in a tree so its meat can dry …   New idioms dictionary

  • hang someone or something out to dry — hang (someone or something) out to dry see hang out at ↑hang, 1 • • • Main Entry: ↑dry …   Useful english dictionary

  • hang out — verb spend time in a certain location or with certain people She hangs out at the corner cafe • Derivationally related forms: ↑hangout • Hypernyms: ↑frequent, ↑haunt • Verb Frames: Somebody s …   Useful english dictionary

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