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Leave Someone in the Lurch

What Does "Leave Someone in the Lurch" Mean?

homeidiomsLeave Someone in the Lurch
"Leave someone in the lurch" is an English idiom. It means "to abandon someone in a difficult position without help."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "leave someone in the lurch" used in a sentence:
  • He left me in the lurch with all these bills to pay.
  • I thought she would assist, but she left me in the lurch.
  • It's not fair to leave your team in the lurch during crunch time.
meaning for leave someone in the lurch

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Leave Someone in the Lurch" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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