leave someone in the lurch
Strand without warning
To leave someone in the lurch is to abandon them at a difficult moment when they need help or support.
The phrase implies sudden desertion—walking away when someone is counting on you: He left me in the lurch right before the presentation.
A lurch is an awkward, unsteady position, so to be left in one is to be stranded mid-stumble.
- let downFail to meet expectations
- break a promiseFail sworn commitment
- bilkDefraud of payment
- abandonLeave behind permanently
- forsakeAbandon completely
backstabbing · throw under the bus · desert · perfidy · hang out to dry · breach of trust · predicament · helplessness · disloyalty · precariousness · defenselessness · betray · strand · ditch · dump · treachery · maroon · lurch
leave someone in the lurchhave someone's back
Offer reliable support
come to someone's aid · come to someone's rescue · lend a helping hand · save the day · pick up the slack
leave someone in the lurchstand firm
Refuse to retreat
have someone's back · keep one's word · stay the course · stay true · see it through
leave someone in the lurchfollow through
Complete an intended action
keep one's word · see it through · do one's part · hold up one's end · step up
leaves, leaving, leaver, someone, lurches, lurched, lurching