be left holding the baby

verb

To be left with the responsibility of resolving a problem.

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Meanings

verbbe left holding the baby (third-person singular simple present is left holding the baby, present participle being left holding the baby, simple past was left holding the baby, past participle been left holding the baby)

present singular third person is left holding the baby · participle present being left holding the baby · past was left holding the baby · participle past been left holding the baby

  1. idiomaticTo be left with the responsibility of resolving a problem.
Cite this entry
APA

be left holding the baby. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/be%20left%20holding%20the%20baby

MLA

“be left holding the baby.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/be%20left%20holding%20the%20baby. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “be left holding the baby,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/be%20left%20holding%20the%20baby.

Source: be left holding the baby on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.