to abandon someone or something believing that they are dead, even though they may still be alive

Friend 1: Why are you so happy? Did you win the lottery?

Friend 2: Something like that. I had bought some stock in a company many years ago and then the company got into some serious trouble and the share price plummeted to almost nothing. I left it for dead and never really thought about it again until yesterday when I received a letter in the mail informing me that the company had recovered and that my stock was now worth more than ten times what I paid for it.

Friend 1: Wow. That's great news.  <br>