Six-year-old Aya in Virginia asks about the expression high and dry. Her family member had worried about some relatives in the path of a storm, and phoned to ask if they were high and dry. This puzzled Aya because she had heard that it’s a bad thing to leave someone high and dry. She discovers that it’s an example of a phrase that can mean two very different things. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “High and Dry Meaning”
Hello, you have A Way with Words.
Hi.
Hi, who’s this?
Aya.
Aya, where are you calling from?
Virginia.
Virginia. Well, welcome to the show.
Do you have a question for us, Aya?
I wanted to know if high and dry is a good thing or a bad thing.
Is high and dry a good thing or a bad thing?
Huh. Well, what got you two wondering about that, Aya?
Because a week ago we called one of our families and we asked if they were high and dry because there was a storm coming.
Okay.
And so you wanted to know if they were safe.
I thought it was a bad thing.
Oh.
So what do you think high and dry means?
I think it’s a bad thing because it’s not good to leave something when you just started it.
You leave your partner high and dry.
That is a good life lesson. You nailed it, Aya. It’s not good to leave people stranded, is it?
Nope.
Aya, this is an excellent question. Thank you for asking it.
So, Aya, the thing is that high and dry can mean a couple of different things.
It can be a good thing.
It can be a good thing if something is safe.
Like if your friends are high and dry and they’re away from the flooding, then they’re safe.
But if you’re a fish, you don’t want to be high and dry.
Or if you’re a boat that’s supposed to be in the water, but the storm throws you up on the hill far inland.
Or a mermaid.
Right, or a mermaid.
Or a mermaid, exactly.
No, she doesn’t want to be thrown into the land, right?
She would be high and dry, and that’s not where she belongs.
Yeah.
So your idea that it’s bad is sometimes true, but it’s also sometimes good.
Thank you.
Yeah, so the answer is basically that it depends on the situation.
Yeah, you’ll always have to listen to the words around it,
The sentences that are being said near high and dry,
To really understand what someone means when they say high and dry.
Thank you.
Yes.
Thank you for your call.
Thank you for talking to us, Aya.
Thank you.
You’re welcome.
Call us again sometime.
Okay.
I love you guys.
I love you too.
Bye-bye.
Oh, I love you too.
Take care now.
Bye.
Bye-bye.
This program is for everyone, no matter their age or background.
Give us a call, 877-929-9673, or email words@waywordradio.org.
