leave someone holding the bag en · VERB
Etymology
Originated in 18th-century Britain, referring to a person left holding stolen goods while the rest of a criminal gang escapes.
Meanings
-
(figuratively) To abandon somebody, leaving him or her holding the responsibility or blame.
After the accident, he just vanished and left me holding the bag.
- (figuratively) To remove the value from an article or arrangement and leave somebody holding the empty (or valueless) container.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| left someone holding the bag | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| left someone holding the bag | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| leaves someone holding the bag | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| leaving someone holding the bag | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
leave someone holding the baby · leave someone in the lurch · leave someone high and dry
Translations (10)
pl wziąć dupę w troki (leave somebody holding the responsibility or blame) · it lasciare col cerino in mano (leave somebody holding the responsibility or blame) · ru пове́сить всех собак (leave somebody holding the responsibility or blame) · fr faire porter le chapeau (leave somebody holding the responsibility or blame) · ru свалить вину (leave somebody holding the responsibility or blame) · fi jättää ottamaan syyt niskoilleen (leave somebody holding the responsibility or blame) · gl botar a culpa (leave somebody holding the responsibility or blame) · gl botar as culpas (leave somebody holding the responsibility or blame) · pt pagar as favas (leave somebody holding the responsibility or blame) · es echar el muerto (leave somebody holding the responsibility or blame)