Amit: Where were you, Akash?
Akash: I didn't mean to leave you in the lurch. I thought we had canceled our meeting.
What does Akash mean by saying, "I didn't mean to leave you in the lurch"?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
Akash didn't want to leave Amit in a difficult situation.
Explanation
The question asks for the meaning of the idiom "leave someone in the lurch."
To "leave someone in the lurch" means to abandon or desert someone in a difficult situation or moment of need. In this dialogue, Amit was left waiting alone. Akash clarifies that his absence was an accident because he thought the meeting was canceled, meaning he did not intend to abandon Amit or put him in a helpless spot. Therefore, Option 1 is the correct choice.
The other options are incorrect because they do not define the idiom. Being busy or forgetting might be excuses for missing a meeting, but they do not match the literal definition of the phrase. Option 4 is incorrect because Akash's statement proves his action was unintentional.
Key Points
This idiom originates from an old board game where being left in the "lurch" meant being stuck in a hopeless, losing position. In exams, its most common synonyms are leave someone high and dry or strand someone.