leave in the lurch

idiom
UK: /ˌliːv ɪn ðə ˈlɜːrtʃ/
US: /ˌliːv ɪn ðə ˈlɜːrtʃ/

  1. To abandon someone in a difficult situation, especially when they are relying on you.

    1. Don't leave me in the lurch, I need your help with this task.
    2. The company director left his employees in the lurch by suddenly resigning without notice.

Synonyms

abandon desert betray strand
leave in the lurch phrasal-verb

  1. To fail to support or help someone when they need it most.

    1. She promised to help, but she left us in the lurch.
    2. He's afraid that if he takes a day off, he'll leave his team in the lurch.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "leave in the lurch" is /ˌliːv ɪn ðə ˈlɜːrtʃ/ in British English and /ˌliːv ɪn ðə ˈlɜːrtʃ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "leave in the lurch": abandon, desert, betray, strand.

Example usage of "leave in the lurch": "Don't leave me in the lurch, I need your help with this task.". More examples on the page.