Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
leave in the lurch
idiomatic expression
/liːv ɪn ðə lɜːrtʃ/
Definition
To leave someone in a difficult situation without help.
Examples
- After promising to help me with the project, he left me in the lurch when he didn’t show up.
- I felt abandoned when my friends all left me in the lurch during the tough times.
Meaning
The phrase ‘leave in the lurch’ means to abandon someone at a time when they are in need or facing difficulty. It conveys a sense of betrayal or neglect, as the person abandoned is left to manage their troubles alone.
Synonyms
- abandon
- desert
- forsake
- leave stranded
