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What is "to leave one in the lurch"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
To leave one in the lurch

Lurch \Lurch\, n. [OF. lourche name of a game; as adj., deceived, embarrassed.]

  1. An old game played with dice and counters; a variety of the game of tables.

  2. A double score in cribbage for the winner when his adversary has been left in the lurch. Lady --- has cried her eyes out on losing a lurch. --Walpole. To leave one in the lurch.

    1. In the game of cribbage, to leave one's adversary so far behind that the game is won before he has scored thirty-one.

    2. To leave one behind; hence, to abandon, or fail to stand by, a person in a difficulty.
      --Denham.

      But though thou'rt of a different church, I will not leave thee in the lurch.
      --Hudibras.