ENGLISH
REFERENCE

leave someone in the lurch

idiom
Meaning

To abandon somebody; especially, to abandon somebody and leave him or her in a difficult situation.


Origin

disputed origin

See entry for left in the lurch

Examples
SIMPLE

Don't leave me in the lurch with all this work.

CONTEXTUAL

My partner quit the project at the last minute, leaving me in the lurch to finish everything alone.

COMPLEX

By failing to arrive for the final performance, the lead actor left the rest of the cast in the lurch, forcing them to improvise the entire show.

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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