Does anyone know the origin of the saying "left me high and dry"? I know it means something like "abandoned" or implies that someone got screwed over ... but isn't it a good thing to be high and dry?
2006-09-06 07:42:55 · 15 answers · asked by thumpinlikeadisco 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Meaning
Stranded, without help or hope of recovery.
Origin
This term originally referred to ships that were beached. The 'dry' implies that, not only were they out of the water, but had been for some time and could be expected to remain so. It was used in a 'Ship News' column in The [London] Times, August 1796:
"The Russian frigate Archipelago, yesterday got aground below the Nore at high water, which; when the tide had ebbed, left her nearly high and dry."
2006-09-06 07:45:18 · answer #1 · answered by DanE 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it's an old west term for where you go when it rains or floods. If you are in a really big flood, you go somewhere that is high and dry. The only thing that sucks is when you are left on a butte (think island) and have to wait for the water to go down so that you can get to where you're going.
If someone leaves you high and dry, it means they tried to help (they got you to somewhere safe) but then you couldn't do anything further (because you were left in an island of sorts).
2006-09-06 07:46:21 · answer #2 · answered by annie*bananie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This term may have come from the time of sailing ships.
Dried manure was transported by ship, in holds, back then. On several occasions, ships transporting dried manure, had exploded for no apparent cause.
It was finally discovered that the wash from waves sometimes flowed into the holds and soaked the dried manure. With water and the heat, manure will explode. (RE: Oklahoma).
After that discovery, it was required that dried manure be hung high in the holds to avoid becoming wet.
"High and dry" became the rule.
At the time, and this is TRUE, signs were posted on these ships.
S.H.I.T. (Ship high in transit)
2006-09-06 07:53:03 · answer #3 · answered by ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it is not a good thing. It entails a loss of everything you have. If you were sailing along in a boat and you got beached you would be high and dry and that would not be good. It is even worse than "Up a creek without a paddle".
Sorry about that
2006-09-06 07:46:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It pertains to water lines and markings left behind. When you look at a water basin (lake, river, etc) you can see where water is. That's called the water line. as water evaporates, deposits accumulate on the water line and leave a mark as the line moves down.
"High and Dry" refers to the high water line markings and the lack of water. You see this best on Lake Mead, where the water has dropped over 100 feet.
2006-09-06 07:48:07 · answer #5 · answered by makawao_kane 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
High and dry.
As in a boat stranded on a beach after the tide receded.
2006-09-06 07:48:28 · answer #6 · answered by Tom-SJ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would guess its from sailing, when the tide goes out, you would be high and dry if stuck somewhere. Probably happened more than a few times.
Probably NOT somebody who smoked too much Ganja and had no water.
2006-09-06 07:46:09 · answer #7 · answered by kurticus1024 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
picture a river plain. In the olden days, it relied on the semi-annual gift of water and silt to renew itself.
The waters and silt would come rushing in and then fall back. But if no flood came- the waters and silt would not arrive and the riverbed would be HIGH AND DRY.
2006-09-06 07:45:46 · answer #8 · answered by Mr. Fancy Pants 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the Victorian times, when people had few belongings, the buttons on their clothes were a status symbol and a sign of wealth. Hence a button indicated wealth n prosperity.........then people made all efforts to have a CUTE BUTTON..
2016-03-27 00:27:13 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ships being beached during low tide.
2006-09-06 07:45:12 · answer #10 · answered by Will 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋