in the lurch

phrase

Synonyms of in the lurchnext
: in a vulnerable and unsupported position
At the peak of the noonday rush the cashier stalked out and left him in the lurch.

Examples of in the lurch in a Sentence

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The Denver ruling was then temporarily halted on Friday by an appeals court injunction, putting thousands of athletes nationwide, like Denaburg, back in the lurch. — CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of in the lurch was in 1596

Rhymes for in the lurch

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Browse Nearby Words

in the line of duty
in the lurch
in the main
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In the lurch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20lurch. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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