Pronunciation: [blˈiːd dɹˈa͡ɪ] (IPA) 
The phrase "bleed dry" is spelled phonetically as blid draɪ in IPA transcription. The first part, blid, is pronounced with a voiced alveolar stop /b/ and a long vowel sound /i:/, followed by a voiced alveolar fricative /d/. The second part, draɪ, has a voiced alveolar fricative /d/ and an unrounded front vowel /aɪ/. The phrase means to exploit or drain someone of all their resources or assets, leaving them depleted.
The term "bleed dry" is an idiomatic expression that is used to depict a situation where resources, often financial ones, are systematically drained or exhausted, typically in a way that is detrimental or detrimental to a person, group, or organization. It conveys the idea of slowly depleting or sapping something until there is nothing left.
When applied to financial resources, "bleed dry" refers to the act of gradually draining funds or assets, usually in a relentless or exploitative manner. This may involve excessive or unreasonable costs, exorbitant fees, high interest rates, or other economic mechanisms yielding unfair advantages to one party while continuously impoverishing the other. The expression hints at a process that exploits vulnerability or dependency, leaving the affected entity weakened or impoverished.
Moreover, "bleed dry" can also be utilized metaphorically to describe situations beyond the financial realm. It can depict an individual being emotionally or physically exhausted, drained of energy, or overwhelmed due to prolonged stress, demanding circumstances, or manipulative relationships. In this sense, it implies a state of being constantly drained or depleted, often to the point of detriment to one's well-being.
Overall, "bleed dry" suggests a gradual and detrimental process of depleting resources, whether financial, emotional, or physical, leaving the affected party severely weakened, impoverished, or exhausted. It encompasses the notion of exploitation, vulnerability, and the slow erosion of assets, energy, or well-being.
The etymology of the phrase "bleed dry" can be understood by examining the origins of its individual words.
1. Bleed: The word "bleed" has its roots in Old English, specifically from the word "blēdan". It originally meant to let blood out from a person or animal as a medical treatment. Over time, the figurative usage of the term developed, referring to the act of extracting something valuable or essential from a person, object, or situation.
2. Dry: The term "dry" can be traced back to Middle English and Old English, derived from the word "dryge". It referred to the absence or scarcity of liquid or moisture. In figurative usage, "dry" came to suggest a state of depletion, exhaustion, or lack.
