Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
leave-for-dead
idiom
/liːv fɔr dɛd/
Definition
To abandon someone or something without care, often in a dangerous situation, suggesting they may not survive.
Examples
- After the accident, the crew was criticized for leaving some victims for dead.
- She felt like her friends had left her for dead when they didn’t come to her aid.
Meaning
The phrase implies that the person or thing left behind is considered not worth saving or has little chance of recovery.
Synonyms
- abandon
- desert
- forsake
- neglect
