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-   -   To leave in the lurch (https://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=7289)

To leave in the lurch


irmamar March 05, 2010 05:47 AM

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

Thanks. :)

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. :)

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:

irmamar March 05, 2010 06:02 AM

Is there another synonym apart from "let down"?:thinking:

Perikles March 05, 2010 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irmamar (Post 75050)
Is there another synonym apart from "let down"?:thinking:

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

irmamar March 05, 2010 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perikles (Post 75054)
The SOED gives "disappoint, deceive" and marks "leave in the lurch" as obsolete, which I don't understand because I use it.:thinking:

:D :D

These words work for me. Thanks. :)

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

poli March 05, 2010 06:27 AM

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 March 05, 2010 10:00 AM

OK, thanks. :)

hermit March 07, 2010 10:50 AM

To "run out" on someone.

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

irmamar March 07, 2010 10:53 AM

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

bobjenkins March 07, 2010 11:47 AM

Nunca lo he oído , ¿es de Inglaterra?


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