leave high and dry crossword – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Answercrossword.com! If you're stuck on the clue "leave high and dry crossword," you've come to the right place. We provide quick, accurate, and comprehensive solutions to help you complete your puzzle. Explore the answers below, along with explanations to broaden your crossword knowledge.
Solutions for "leave high and dry crossword" by Letter Count
5 Letters
BEACH: To cause a boat or other vessel to run aground, leaving it out of the water and unable to move, literally "high and dry."
6 Letters
STRAND: To leave someone in a helpless or difficult position without the means to move or escape, often without resources or support.
DESERT: To abandon a person, cause, or organization in a disloyal or treacherous way, leaving them without aid or support.
7 Letters
ABANDON: To leave completely and permanently; to give up control or responsibility for someone or something, often implying a lack of care or support.
More About "leave high and dry crossword"
"Leave high and dry" is an idiom that conjures images of a ship stuck on a sandbank at low tide, unable to move until the water returns. In a crossword context, this clue often points to words that mean to abandon, neglect, or maroon someone or something in a helpless state. The literal interpretation of being stranded without water is a useful mental image for deciphering the figurative meanings.
Crossword constructors love clues like this because they allow for multiple interpretations, ranging from the literal (like 'BEACH' for a boat) to the more metaphorical (like 'STRAND' or 'ABANDON' for a person or project). Paying attention to the letter count and surrounding letters in your puzzle will often help narrow down the exact word the constructor is looking for.
Understanding the nuances of such idiomatic phrases is key to becoming a crossword master. This particular idiom is quite common, making its answers recurring in various puzzles. Memorizing these common solutions can significantly speed up your solving time for future crosswords.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Analyze the Clue's Tone: Determine if the clue implies a literal action (like a ship running aground) or a figurative one (like deserting a friend). This helps eliminate unlikely answers.
- Consider Synonyms and Antonyms: For "leave high and dry," think of words that mean to abandon, isolate, or neglect. Also, consider their opposites if the clue were phrased differently.
- Check Letter Count and Intersecting Letters: Always use the number of letters required and any already-filled intersecting letters as your primary guide. This often quickly reveals the correct answer from a list of possibilities.
- Look for Phrasal Verbs: Idioms often have single-word answers that are synonymous with the entire phrase. "Leave high and dry" could be replaced by a single verb like 'strand' or 'abandon'.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'leave high and dry' mean in a crossword context?
In crosswords, 'leave high and dry' typically refers to abandoning someone or something, leaving them without help, resources, or support. It can also literally mean to run aground, as in a boat.
How many letters are common for 'leave high and dry' answers?
Common answers for 'leave high and dry' range from 5 to 7 letters, including words like BEACH, STRAND, DESERT, and ABANDON, depending on the specific puzzle and nuance.
Are there literal and figurative answers for 'leave high and dry'?
Yes, 'leave high and dry' can have both literal answers (like BEACHing a vessel) and figurative ones (like STRANDing or ABANDONing someone without support or means).