Perikles |
March 05, 2010 05:57 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar
(Post 75043)
I'd like to know if 'to leave in the lurch' has the same meaning than 'let down' or 'stand up'.
Thanks. :)
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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. :eek:
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