to be left holding the bag
1left holding the bag — See leave you holding the bag …
2be left holding the bag — INFORMAL ► to be made responsible for something that was really the fault of somebody else: »He quit the company and we were left holding the bag for the bad decisions he d made. Main Entry: ↑bag …
3be left holding the bag — I see hold II be left holding the bag (or baby) informal be left with an unwelcome responsibility, typically without warning …
4holding the bag — left alone to finish the work or be responsible Mom says we leave her holding the bag to finish jobs alone …
5leave\ holding\ the\ bag — • leave holding the bag • leave holding the sack v. phr. informal 1. To cause (someone) not to have something needed; leave without anything, In the rush for seats, Joe was left holding the bag. 2. To force (someone) to take the whole… …
6leave holding the bag — or[leave holding the sack] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To cause (someone) not to have something needed; leave without anything, * /In the rush for seats, Joe was left holding the bag./ 2. To force (someone) to take the whole responsibility or blame… …
7leave holding the bag — or[leave holding the sack] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To cause (someone) not to have something needed; leave without anything, * /In the rush for seats, Joe was left holding the bag./ 2. To force (someone) to take the whole responsibility or blame… …
8leave holding the bag — vp To be made a scapegoat. When the hand grenade exploded beneath the cow, Beulah was left holding the bag. 1860s …
9leave somebody holding the bag — verb a) To abandon somebody, leaving them holding the responsibility or blame. After the accident, he just vanished and left me holding the bag. b) To remove the value from an article or arrangement and leave somebody holding the empty (or… …
10be left holding the baby (or N. Amer. bag) — informal be left with an unwelcome responsibility. → hold …
