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
