High and Dry on Newburgh Beach

Overnight a strong southerly wind has left hundreds of small jellyfish high and dry on Newburgh beach. Best viewed zoomified.

High and Dry - Stranded, without help or hope of recovery.

The term originally referred to ships that had become beached. The 'dry' implies that, not only were they out of the water, but had been for some time and could be expected to remain so. An early usage was in the 'Ship News' column in The London Times, August 1796:

"The Russian frigate Archipelago, yesterday got aground below the Nore at high water, which; when the tide had ebbed, left her nearly high and dry."