To leave in the lurch

[irmamar]

I'd like to know if 'to leave in the lurch' has the same meaning than 'let down' or 'stand up'.

Thanks.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I'd like to know if 'to leave in the lurch' has the same meaning than 'let down' or 'stand up'.

Thanks.

It means something like 'let down', but not 'stand up'. As I understand it, somebody is stood up if they make a date and one doesn't turn up. This is an emotional disappointment, not a practical inconvenience. To let somebody down means to disappoint them by, say, not doing something you promised:

I wanted to go shopping, and Fred said he would give me a lift, but he let me down.

To leave someone in the lurch means to present them with a difficult problem by failing in a commitment:

We bought a house together and shared the mortgage, but he ran off with the au-pair girl and left me in the lurch.

[irmamar]

Is there another synonym apart from "let down"?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Is there another synonym apart from "let down"?

The SOED gives "disappoint, deceive" and marks "leave in the lurch" as obsolete, which I don't understand because I use it.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Perikles

The SOED gives "disappoint, deceive" and marks "leave in the lurch" as obsolete, which I don't understand because I use it.

These words work for me. Thanks.

Would "To be abandoned when one is in a bad situation" be a good definition?

[poli]

to be abandoned in a bad situation is good.

Figuratively you can say: to be left holding the bag.

The was waiting for the groom at the church but he never show up and left her in a lurch.
To stand someone up - is to leave them in a lurch

[irmamar]

OK, thanks.

[hermit]

To "run out" on someone.

Ex: She was counting on him, but he ran out on her.

[irmamar]

Thank you, Hermit. That's new for me (there are always so many new things).

[bobjenkins]

Nunca lo he oído , ¿es de Inglaterra?