lurch
2
[ lurch ]
/ lɜrtʃ /
noun
a situation at the close of various games in which the loser scores nothing or is far behind the opponent.
Idioms for lurch
leave in the lurch,
to leave in an uncomfortable or desperate situation; desert in time of trouble: Our best salesperson left us in the lurch at the peak of the busy season.
Origin of lurch
2
1525–35; < Middle French
lourche a game, noun use of
lourche (adj.) discomfited < Germanic; compare Middle High German
lurz left (hand), Old English
belyrtan to deceive
Words nearby lurch
British Dictionary definitions for leave in the lurch (1 of 3)
lurch
1
/ (lɜːtʃ) /
verb (intr)
to lean or pitch suddenly to one side
to stagger or sway
noun
the act or an instance of lurching
Derived forms of lurch
lurching, adjectiveWord Origin for lurch
C19: origin unknown
British Dictionary definitions for leave in the lurch (2 of 3)
lurch
2
/ (lɜːtʃ) /
noun
leave someone in the lurch
to desert someone in trouble
cribbage
the state of a losing player with less than 30 points at the end of a game (esp in the phrase in the lurch)
Word Origin for lurch
C16: from French
lourche a game similar to backgammon, apparently from
lourche (adj) deceived, probably of Germanic origin
British Dictionary definitions for leave in the lurch (3 of 3)
lurch
3
/ (lɜːtʃ) /
verb
(intr) archaic, or dialect
to prowl or steal about suspiciously
Word Origin for lurch
C15: perhaps a variant of
lurk
Idioms and Phrases with leave in the lurch (1 of 2)
leave in the lurch
Abandon or desert someone in difficult straits. For example, Jane was angry enough to quit without giving notice, leaving her boss in the lurch. This expression alludes to a 16th-century French dice game, lourche, where to incur a lurch meant to be far behind the other players. It later was used in cribbage and other games, as well as being used in its present figurative sense by about 1600.
Idioms and Phrases with leave in the lurch (2 of 2)
lurch
see leave in the lurch.