left in the lurch

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From the Middle French board game of lourche (“lurch”). Players suffered a lurch if they were left in a hopeless position which rendered victory impossible.[1]

Adjective[edit]

left in the lurch (not comparable)

  1. Stranded in a difficult and helpless position.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gary Martin (1997–) “Left in the lurch”, in The Phrase Finder, retrieved 26 February 2017.
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