dry out
To get completely dry inside and out, or to stop drinking alcohol by getting help.
Meanings
To become completely dry, losing all or most moisture, often through time or exposure to air or heat.
"Leave the clay sculpture in the sun for a day and it will dry out completely."
To cause something to lose too much moisture, making it unpleasantly dry or cracked.
"Washing your hands too often can dry out the skin on your knuckles."
To stop drinking alcohol, usually by undergoing treatment or rehabilitation.
"He checked into a clinic to dry out after years of heavy drinking."
Has two main uses: (1) a physical sense about moisture loss, often referring to soil, food, skin, or materials; (2) an informal sense about recovering from alcoholism, often in a medical or rehabilitation context. The second sense is well established in informal and journalistic English.
Commonly used with
Forms
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