high and dry Definition

dry
adj drier, driest

1. Free from or lacking moisture or wetness.

Thesaurus: parched, arid, desiccated, barren, dehydrated, drained, thirsty, shriveled; Antonym: wet, moist, damp.
2. With little or no rainfall.
3. From which all the water has evaporated or been taken.

Example: a dry well
4. Thirsty.
5. Said of an animal: no longer producing milk.
6. Said of wine, etc: not sweet.
7. Not buttered.

Example: dry toast
8. Said of humour: expressed in a quietly sarcastic or matter-of-fact way.

Thesaurus: droll, tongue-in-cheek, satirical, subtle, sarcastic, sly, ironic, sardonic, oblique, witty; Antonym: obvious, broad.
9. Forbidding the sale and consumption of alcohol.
10. Said of eyes: without tears.
11. Dull; uninteresting.

Thesaurus: dull, boring, tedious, monotonous, pedantic, long-winded, interminable, dreary, tiresome; Antonym: lively, spicy.
12. Lacking warmth of character.
13. Said of a cough: not producing catarrh.

verb dries, dried, drying

tr & intr
1. To make or become dry.

Thesaurus: dehydrate, desiccate, drain, harden, mummify, parch, shrivel, wilt, wizen; Antonym: soak, wet.
tr
2. To preserve (food) by removing all moisture.

noun

dries, drys
1. colloq
A staunch right-wing British Conservative politician. Compare wet.

Derivative: drily
adverb

Derivative: dryness
noun

Idiom: cut and dried

See under cut.

Idiom: high and dry

See under high.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon dryge.

Phrasal Verb: dry off

To become completely dry.

Phrasal Verb: dry something off

To dry it completely.

Phrasal Verb: dry out

To become completely dry.To receive treatment to cure addiction to alcohol; to have one's addiction cured.

Phrasal Verb: dry something out

To dry it completely.

Phrasal Verb: dry up

To dry thoroughly or completely.To cease to produce or be produced.Said of a speaker or actor: to run out of words; to forget lines while on stage.To shut up or be quiet.

Phrasal Verb: dry something up

To dry (dishes) after washing them.

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high
adj higher, highest

1. Elevated; tall; towering.

Example: high buildings
Thesaurus: tall, towering, lofty, steep, skyscraping, sky-high, colossal, gigantic, huge, immense, elevated, upraised, uplifted, aerial, cloud-swept, flying, hovering, soaring; Antonym: short, diminutive, depressed, low, underground.
2. Being a specific height.

Example: a hundred feet high
3. Far up from a base point, such as the ground or sea level.

Example: a high branch
Example: a high mountain
4. Intense or advanced; more forceful than normal.

Example: a high wind
5. At the peak or climax.

Example: high summer
Example: high season
6. Said of a period or era: at the height of its development.

Example: High Renaissance
Form: High (also)
7. Significant; exalted or revered.

Example: high art
Thesaurus: important, chief, crucial, essential, eminent, leading, powerful, distinguished, prominent, significant, superior; Antonym: insignificant, petty.
8. Said of sound: acute in pitch.
9. Fully developed in terms of emotions and content.

Example: high drama
10. Said of meat: partially decomposed or tainted.
11. Elated or euphoric; over-excited.
12. colloq
Under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Example: was high on E
Thesaurus: drugged, inebriated, intoxicated, tipsy, chewing sawdust (US slang), hammered (slang), stoned (slang), smashed (slang), trashed (US slang), tripping (slang), walking sideways (US slang), wasted (slang), whacked (US slang).
13. Taller or bigger than average.

Example: a high-necked sweater
Thesaurus: costly, exorbitant, lavish, dear, extravagant, inflated; Antonym: cheap.

adverb

1. At or to a height; in or into an elevated position.

Example: The plane flew high

noun

1. A high point or level.
2. The maximum or highest level.

Thesaurus: apex, apogee, height, peak, summit, top, zenith.
3. colloq
A state of ecstasy and euphoria, often produced by drugs or alcohol.
Example: on a high
Thesaurus: delirium, ecstasy, euphoria, intoxication, trip (slang); Antonym: low, nadir.
4. meteorol.
An anticyclone.

Idiom: a high old time

A period of exuberance and enthusiasm.

Idiom: high and dry

Stranded or helpless; defenceless.
Thesaurus: abandoned, marooned, stranded, bereft, helpless.

Said of boats: out of the water.

Idiom: high and low

Up and down; everywhere.
Thesaurus: everywhere, exhaustively, in all possible places, in every nook and corner.

Said of people: rich and poor alike.

Idiom: high and mighty

Arrogant; pompous.
Thesaurus: haughty, conceited, pompous, vain.

Idiom: high as a kite

Over-excited or ecstatic.

Under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Idiom: hit the high spots

To continue to excess; to reach a high level.

Idiom: on high

Above or aloft; in heaven.

Idiom: on one's high horse

Having an arrogant or condescending attitude or manner.
Thesaurus: arrogant, disdainful, haughty.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon heah.