The idiom "leave someone holding the bag" is believed to have its origins in 18th-century America, specifically in the context of a scam or deception. In some con games, a person would be tricked into holding a bag supposedly filled with valuable items, while the scammer disappeared, leaving the unsuspecting individual to face the reality that the bag contained nothing of value. Today, it is used as an idiomatic expression in various contexts and occasions to describe situations where an individual or group is abandoned or burdened with responsibility for a problem, situation, or task, typically when they were not originally involved or responsible for it.

What is the origin of the idiom "leave someone holding the bag" and when to use it?

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to [leave] {sb} holding the bag

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Définition et signification de « leave somebody holding the bag » en anglais

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