twist in the wind

verb2

1. •
   To be unassisted and without comfort in a situation likely to result in distress or failure.

   • There seemed to be a shared perception of Colonel North as a good and honorable serviceman who had been left to twist in the wind, the scapegoat of an operation gone awry. — 1987
2. •
   To wait for an uncomfortably long period of time.

   • McGuinty just says, "Don't worry, the investigation will be over soon enough, we'll do something in due course," and people are expected to twist in the wind in the meantime. — 2008