to leave somebody holding the bag
01
to be left in a difficult or embarrassing situation, often without any support or assistance
Dialect
American
American
![to [leave] {sb} holding the bag definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/44568/original/?type=jpeg "to [leave] {sb} holding the bag definition and meaning")
Idiom
Informal
例子
The manager promised to handle the budget, but when it went overboard, he left his team holding the bag.
In the group project, one member disappeared during the crucial presentation, leaving her colleagues holding the bag to explain everything.
