Hang 'em out

anyone know the origion of "hang them out to dry"

Hanging clothes outside on a clothes line in the days before electric dryers.

I'm having a hard time with the idea that there's anybody over age three who's never seen a clothesline.

That's true. But clothes lines may make a comeback. There was discussion about clothes lines in connection with the California energy crisis. Some communities now ban clothes lines because they spoil the "look."

No doubt those communities would ban my clothes for the same reason.

Nonsense. You look just fine. I don't know about those shoes, though....

Your uncertainty is understandable: I'm barefoot.

One of my Californian friends said that she had a solar powered clothes dryer. I was very impressed until she said 'It's called a clothes line!'

This phrase has also been used to describe exposing a person for what he or she really is. In the days before clothes dryers, all of one's laundry was hung out to dry - thus allowing one's neighbors to see the holes, frayed edges, etc.

In fact, many housewives would cover their more intimate apparel with a sheet so nosy neighbors wouln't see these items.