ENENENEN
FR
ES
RU
IT
TR
UKleave sb at the altar
/lˈiːv ˌɛsbˈiː at ðɪ ˈɒltə/
/lˈiːv ˌɛsbˈiː æt ðɪ ˈɑːltɚ/to leave sb at the altar
[PHRASE]1
to abandon the person one is supposed to marry at the last possible moment before the ceremony
![to [leave] {sb} at the altar definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/40303/original/ "to [leave] {sb} at the altar definition and meaning")
What is the origin of the idiom "leave someone at the altar" and when to use it?
The phrase "leave someone at the altar" is derived from the traditional wedding ceremony where the couple exchanges vows and gets married. The "altar" refers to the elevated platform or area in a church or wedding venue where the marriage ceremony takes place. The phrase specifically refers to a situation where one partner, usually the groom, fails to appear or backs out of the wedding ceremony, leaving the other person alone at the altar.
Examples
1. Julia's fiancé left her at the altar, causing her immense heartbreak and embarrassment.
2. After realizing she didn't truly love him, she made the difficult decision of leaving him at the altar.
3. And he then brought Zuckerberg out to Silicon Valley and famously left Sequoia at the altar and wouldn't let them invest, because of how he felt he had been treated.
4. The video chronicles their brief romantic bliss, one jealousy-fueled fight, and, ultimately, Lovato's lover leaving her at the altar to commiserate with the gospel choir.
more