Bleed somebody dry

verb

To take all of someone's money or resources over a period of time.

The corrupt government has bled the country dry.
Visual representation of "bleed somebody dry" - To take all of someone's money or resources over a period of time

Often appears as...

  • bleed someone dry
  • bleed a business dry

Usage tips

Disapproving

Idiomatic

verb

To exhaust someone's physical or emotional strength.

Peter feels that his job is bleeding him dry.
Visual representation of "bleed somebody dry" - To exhaust someone's physical or emotional strength

Often appears as...

  • work bleeds someone dry
  • stress bleeds someone dry

Usage tips

Disapproving

Idiomatic

verb

To take all of someone's money or resources over a period of time.

The corrupt government has bled the country dry.
Visual representation of "bleed somebody dry" - To take all of someone's money or resources over a period of time

Often appears as...

  • bleed someone dry
  • bleed a business dry

Usage tips

Disapproving

Idiomatic

verb

To exhaust someone's physical or emotional strength.

Peter feels that his job is bleeding him dry.
Visual representation of "bleed somebody dry" - To exhaust someone's physical or emotional strength

Often appears as...

  • work bleeds someone dry
  • stress bleeds someone dry

Usage tips

Disapproving

Idiomatic

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "bleed somebody dry"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Metaphoric Usage

The phrase doesn't involve actual bleeding; it's a metaphor for taking all resources.

Illustration for Metaphoric Usage
The legal fees bled me dry; I've got nothing left.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Negative Implication

Used to express a negative situation where someone is exploited financially.

Illustration for Negative Implication
After the divorce, Helen felt her ex-husband had bled her dry.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Not Literal

It's a figure of speech and isn't used in a literal sense of physical bleeding.

Illustration for Not Literal
The new tax policy is going to bleed our savings dry.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Metaphoric Usage

The phrase doesn't involve actual bleeding; it's a metaphor for taking all resources.

Illustration for Metaphoric Usage
The legal fees bled me dry; I've got nothing left.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Negative Implication

Used to express a negative situation where someone is exploited financially.

Illustration for Negative Implication
After the divorce, Helen felt her ex-husband had bled her dry.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Not Literal

It's a figure of speech and isn't used in a literal sense of physical bleeding.

Illustration for Not Literal
The new tax policy is going to bleed our savings dry.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Metaphoric Usage

The phrase doesn't involve actual bleeding; it's a metaphor for taking all resources.

Illustration for Metaphoric Usage
The legal fees bled me dry; I've got nothing left.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Negative Implication

Used to express a negative situation where someone is exploited financially.

Illustration for Negative Implication
After the divorce, Helen felt her ex-husband had bled her dry.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Not Literal

It's a figure of speech and isn't used in a literal sense of physical bleeding.

Illustration for Not Literal
The new tax policy is going to bleed our savings dry.
Visual representation of the word "Bleed somebody dry"

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