meaning - What does "to bleed something" mean?


In Bloomberg magazine, I saw this sentence:



Rust Belt states that have bled manufacturing jobs.



Does it mean they have lost the jobs or gained more jobs?



Answer



Bleed means to lose something steadily in a way that is dangerous to the life of something, as bleeding is to human life. The example you cite means Rust Belt states have lost jobs. If they lose too many — bleed too many jobs — the Rust Belt is in danger of dying. Which it is.


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