English

Verb

leave (someone) in the lurch

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

   He left me in the lurch and I had to finish the whole project by myself.

   • Hudibras

     But though thou'rt of a different church, / I will not leave thee in the lurch.

Synonyms

• leave someone holding the bag
• leave someone high and dry
• bilk

Translations