rester le bec dans l’eau

The French expression “rester le bec dans l’eau” translates literally to “to stay with the mouth in the water”.

English meanings:

  • to be left high and dry
  • to be left in the lurch

French meanings:

  • déçu après avoir espéré quelque chosedisappointed after having had hoped for something
  • qui n’a plus rien not having anything anymore

Example sentence:

Au dernier moment. l’hôtel a annuel ma réservation et je me suis trouvé le bec dans l’eau. The hotel cancelled my reservation at the last minute and I was left high and dry.

Synonyms:

  • être en planto be left high and dry
  • planter quelqu’unto leave somebody high and dry
  • laisser quelqu’un se débrouiller tout seul – to leave somebody in the lurch

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