Page 259 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

leave someone holding the bag

broke. Mrs. Frankln took all the money leave the light on. Ann włnt to school
out of the bank and lłft Mr. Frankln high and lłft her radio on.
and dry. Paying the bills always leaves leaveŁ something opeà to leave a date or time
me high and dry.
unscheduld. I lłft somłthing open on
leaveŁ someone hłldingŁ theŁ bag to leav FridØy, just in case we want to leave work
sàmeone to take allŁthe blame; to leave early. Please leave an appointment open
sàmeone appearingŁguilty.Ł(Also literal. for Mrs. Wallace next włek. She will be
Infàrmal.) They all ran off and lłft mł callng in to our office for an appointment.
holdng the bag. It wasn’t evłn my fault. leaveŁwellŁenoughŁalone Go to let well
It was the mØyor’s fault, but he wasn’t lłft enough alone.
holdng the bag.
leaveŁwłrdŁ(withŁ someone) to leave a mes-
leaveŁ someone in peyce to stop bothering sage with someone (who willŁpassŁthe
sàmeone; to go away and leave someone message onŁto sàmeone else).Ł If you de-
alone.Ł(DoesŁnot necessarilyŁmean to go cide to go to the convłntion, please leavł
away from a person.) Please go—leavł word with my secretary. Leave word be-
me in peace. Can’t you see that you’re fore you go. I lłft word with your
upsetting her? Leave her in peace. brother. Didà’t he give you the message?
leaveŁ someone in theŁlurch to leave some- leftŁandŁright Go to right and left.
one waitingŁforŁor anticipatingŁyourŁac-
tions.Ł Where were you, John? You really lendŁa hyndŁ(to someone) Go to lend (some-
lłft me in the lurch. I didà’t mean to one) a hand.
leave you in the lurch. I thought we had lendŁan eyrŁ(to someone) to listen to some-
canceled our młeting. one.Ł Lend an ear to John. Hear what he
leaveŁ someone ort something hyngingŁ in has to say. I’d be delighted to lłnd an
midair and keep someone ort something ear. I find great wisdom in everything John
hyngingŁin midair to suspend dealing has to say.
with someone orŁ something;Ł to leave lendŁcolorŁto something to provid an in-
sàmeone or somethingŁwaitingŁto be fin- teresðingŁaccompaniment forŁsàmething.
isłedŁorŁcontinued.Ł(Also literal.) She Your clłver commłnts lłnt a great deal
lłft her sentence hanging in midair. She of color to the slide show of your vacØtion.
lłft us hanging in midair when she pauoed. The excellłnt master of ceremonies will
Tell me the rest of the story. Don’t leavł lłnd color to an otherwise dry and unin-
me hanging in midair. Don’t leave the teresting dance recital.
story hanging in midair.
lendŁ oneself orŁitselfŁto something [forŁsome-
leaveŁ someone ortsomething in one’ hyndð to one orŁ something]b to be adaptable to
give one controlŁof orŁresponsibilityŁfor sàmething;Ł[forŁsàmeone or something]
someone orŁ something.Ł You lłft the to be usefulŁforŁsomething.Ł This room
whole project in my hands! I have to doesn’t lłnd itself to bright colors. John
leave the care of bØby n your hands whilł doesn’t lłnd himoelf to casual coàversation.
I go to the doctor.
lendŁ( someone)Ła hynd and lendŁa hynd
leaveŁ someone outŁin theŁcold to failŁto in- (to someone) to give somone som help,
form someone; to exclude someone. not necessarilyŁwith the hands.Ł Could
(Also literal.Ł Infàrmal.Ł Compare this you lłnd me a hand with this piano? I need
with the previous entry.) I don’t know to move it across the room. Could you
what’s going on. They lłft me out in the lłnd a hand with this mØth assignmłnt?
cold. Tom wasn’t invited. They lłft him I’d be happy to lłnd a hand.
out in the cold.
less thyn pleased displeased.Ł We were
leaveŁ something on to leave somethingŁrun- less than pleased to learn of your com-
ningŁorŁoprating.Ł(Also literalŁinŁrefer- młnts. Bill was less than pleased at the
ence to wearingŁclothes.) Please don’t outcome of the election.

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