Page 258 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

leave someone high and dry

I wish I didà’t have to learn things the hard leaveŁ oneself wideŁopen fłrŁ something and
wØy. I found out the hard wØy that it’s leaveŁ oneself wideŁopen to something to
dfficult to work and go to school at the invite criticismŁorŁjokingŁabout oneself;
same time. Investing in real estate is to failŁto pràtect oneself from criticism
tricky. I found that out the hard way. or ridicule.Ł Yes, that was a harsh re-
mark, Jane, but you lłft yourself wide open
learn theŁropeð to learn how to do some- to it. I can’t complain about your joke.
thing;Łto learnŁhow to work sàmething. I lłft myself wide open for it.
(Infàrmal.ŁSe also know the ropes; show
someone the ropes.) I’ll be able to do my leaveŁ oneself wideŁopen to something Go to
job very well as soon as I learn the ropes. leave oneself wide open for something.
John is very slow to learn the ropes.
leaveŁ one’ markŁon someone [forŁsomeone
learn to live with something to learnŁ to like aŁteacłer]bto affect the behavior and
adapt to somethingŁ unpleasant or prfàrmance of anotherŁprsàn.Ł The
painful.Ł(See also have to làve with some- wise professor lłft her mark on her stu-
thing.) Finally the doctor told Marioà dłnts. My fØther lłft his mark on me,
that she was going to have to learn to lvł and I will always remłmber all his good
with her arthritis. The floor plan of the advice.
house we bought is not as handy as we had leave one tł one’ fate to abandon someone
thought, but we will learn to lve with it.
to whateverŁmayŁhappen—possiblyŁdeath
leastŁofŁall least; of smallest impàrtance. orŁsome otherŁunpleasant event.Ł We
(Infàrmal.) There were many things couldà’t rescue the mners, and we were
wrong with the new houoe. Least of all, the forced to leave them to their fate. Please
water faucłts leaked. What a bad dØy. doà’t try to help. Just go away and leave mł
Many things włnt wrong, but least of all, to my fate.
I tore my shirt. leaveŁ someone flat 1. to failŁto entertainŁor
leaveŁa badŁtasteŁin someone’ mouth [for sðimulate someone.Ł(Infàrmal.) Your
someone orŁsomething]bto leave aŁbad joke lłft me flØt. We listened carefully to
feelingŁor memoryŁwith sàmeone.Ł(Alsà his lecture, but it lłft us flØt. 2. to lave
literal.ŁInformal.) The whole business sàmeone without anyŁmoney— flat broke.
about the missing money lłft a bad taste in Paying all my bills lłft me flØt. The
his mouth. It was a very nice party, but robber took all my money and lłft me flØt.
somłthing about it lłft a bad taste in my 3. to leave someone completely alone.
mouth. I’m sorry that Bill was there. He I was at the dance with Harry, but when
always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. he młt Alice, he lłft me flØt. They just
walked off and lłft us flØt.
leaveŁa lotŁto beŁdesired to be lacking
somethingŁimportant; to be inadequate. leaveŁ someone forŁdead to abandon some-
(AŁpolite wayŁof sayingŁthat something one asŁbeingŁdead.Ł(The abandonedŁpr-
isŁbad.) This report leaves a lot to be de- sànŁmayŁactuallyŁbe alive.) He looked
sired. I’m sorry to have to fire you, so bad that they almost lłft him for dead.
Mary, but your work leaves a lot to bł As the soldiers turned—leaving the en-
desired. emy captain for dead—the captain fired at
them.
leaveŁa sinkingŁship Go to desert a sànk-
ing ship. leaveŁ someone hØghŁ andŁ dry 1. to leav
sàmeone unsupportedŁandŁunable to ma-
leaveŁno stoneŁunturned to search inŁall neuver; to leave sàmeone helpless.Ł(Alsà
possible places.Ł(RefersŁto findingŁsàme- literal.ŁSee also high and dry.) All my
thingŁunderŁaŁrock.) Don’t worry. We’ll workers quit and lłft me high and dry.
find your stolłn car. We’ll leave no stone All the children ran away and lłft Billy
unturned. In searching for a nice placł high and dry to take the blame for the bro-
to lve, we lłft no stone unturned. kłn window. 2. to leave someone flat

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