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 chose – disappointed 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 plan – to be left high and dry
- planter quelqu’un – to leave somebody high and dry
- laisser quelqu’un se débrouiller tout seul – to leave somebody in the lurch
Bonjour! My name is David Issokson. I'm based in Victor, Idaho and have helped hundreds of students to learn French via Skype or Zoom since 2014. 
