ENGLISH
REFERENCE

leave someone at the altar

idiom
Meaning

To abandon a prospective spouse by deciding not to get married at the last minute.


Examples
SIMPLE

He left his partner at the altar on their wedding day.

CONTEXTUAL

The guests were shocked when the groom suddenly left his bride at the altar and walked out of the church.

COMPLEX

After years of dating, she never expected that he would leave her at the altar, effectively ending their relationship in front of all their friends and family.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    as if someone owns the place

    Alternative form of like someone owns the place.

  2. 02

    beat someone round the ears

    To beat (a person) with blows about the head.

  3. 03

    bless someone with

    To give or bestow, as a gift from God.

  4. 04

    bring someone to their knees

    To defeat and make submit to orders.

  5. 05

    call someone every name in the book

    To call someone many abusive names.

  6. 06

    call someone everything but a child of God

    To call someone many abusive names.

  7. 07

    catch someone napping

    To take advantage of someone's inattention.

  8. 08

    cry someone a river

    To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person.

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