How do you say “Leave someone high and dry” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is jemanden im Stich lassen, which literally means “to leave someone in the lurch; “Stich” literally means a stab or stitch”. English speakers use leave someone high and dry to mean to leave someone without the help or resources they need in a difficult situation. It often sounds like a personal complaint about someone you expected to help. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural German
jemanden im Stich lassen
/ˈjeːmandn̩ ɪm ʃtɪç ˈlasn̩/
- Literal meaning
- “to leave someone in the lurch; “Stich” literally means a stab or stitch”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
94 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
“Im Stich lassen” can describe a friend, supplier or even a machine that lets you down when you need it. It often sounds like a disappointed complaint.
“Hängen lassen” is more casual. If you don't want to accuse anyone, describe the practical problem instead: being left without transport or help.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in German?
jemanden hängen lassen
Literally: “to leave someone hanging”
More conversational, often about letting a person down.
jemanden ohne Hilfe zurücklassen
Literally: “to leave someone behind without help”
A direct description of the practical situation.
In context
English
The supplier left us high and dry two days before the event.
German
Der Lieferant hat uns zwei Tage vor der Veranstaltung im Stich gelassen.
English
Please don't leave me high and dry with all this work.
German
Bitte lass mich mit der ganzen Arbeit nicht hängen.
Related expressions
- What “Leave someone high and dry” means in English
- Throw someone under the bus, Blame or betray someone to protect yourself.
- In the same boat, Facing the same difficult situation
Last updated 2026-09-16