Lurch
/lɜːrtʃ/verb
To move suddenly or unsteadily, especially in a way that is not controlled.
The bus lurched to a halt.
Often appears as...
- bus lurched
- lurched forward
verb
To experience a sudden change, especially a negative one.
The company lurched into bankruptcy.
Often appears as...
- lurched into crisis
- lurched into depression
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A sudden uncontrolled movement or change.
The lurch of the ship knocked him off balance.
Often appears as...
- lurch of the ship
- sudden lurch
verb
To abandon or leave someone when they are in a difficult or unwanted situation.
He left us in a lurch with the bill.
Often appears as...
- leaving someone in a lurch
- left in a lurch
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb
To move suddenly or unsteadily, especially in a way that is not controlled.
The bus lurched to a halt.
Often appears as...
- bus lurched
- lurched forward
verb
To experience a sudden change, especially a negative one.
The company lurched into bankruptcy.
Often appears as...
- lurched into crisis
- lurched into depression
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A sudden uncontrolled movement or change.
The lurch of the ship knocked him off balance.
Often appears as...
- lurch of the ship
- sudden lurch
verb
To abandon or leave someone when they are in a difficult or unwanted situation.
He left us in a lurch with the bill.
Often appears as...
- leaving someone in a lurch
- left in a lurch
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Movement
Use 'lurch' for unexpected physical movements, like when a vehicle stops suddenly.
As the train lurched, passengers grabbed their seats.
Pro Tip 2/3Unsteadiness Implied
'Lurch' implies losing balance or steadiness, often leading to almost falling over.
He lurched after tripping on the rug.
Pro Tip 3/3Control is Key
'Lurch' implies a lack of control, whether it's by a person or an object in motion.
The sudden stop made the skateboarder lurch forward.
Compare with
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Video examples
The Community of Food PIPE...
and I call up my fish purveyor and I was like, 'Michael, what exactly did you send me?' My language was of course perfectly gentlemanly, proper and prim. And he said, "Well, you know, we had a bad day of fishing but, you know, I didn't want to leave you in the lurch, so, we just sent you all the left over bait.
Video examples
The Train Heist PIPE Think...
is that it tells us how far the node is from the crane. So as soon as the variable hits 0, Hedge should hit the button. And here’s what happens. Ethic gets into position on the crane while Hedge rushes off and slips into the engine car unnoticed, just before the train lurches to life.
Video examples
Restoring a lost sense...
to get oriented what veronica santos is seeing in her lab is a robot that looks like it's drunk it's like lurching around from one side to another because it can't figure out what it's doing and with the help of virtual reality goggles cynthia could experience reality from
Video examples
10 years to transform...
And third, these systems are all linked like If you cross one tipping point, you lurch closer to others. Let's stop for a moment and look at where we are. The foundation of our civilization is a stable climate and a rich diversity of life.
Video examples
12 truths I learned from...
and kind of lurching along together. And I was surprised, but they said I could give a talk, and I said I'd love to. If you don't know where to start, remember that every single thing that happened to you is yours and you get to tell it.
Video examples
The tragic myth of the...
and the seas began to crackle and freeze. Startled, Phaethon sharply pulled the reins. The horses lurched and the chariot plunged towards the Earth's surface. Lakes boiled and forests burned as Phaethon struggled to pull the chariot up,
Video examples
Disgusting! Blue Whale...
I've ever been quite so excited about poo in my entire life a whale must have surfaced here just minutes before but our search is getting harder the waves are increasing and we're lurching about all over the place
Video examples
What a Sea Snail Die-off...
they keep in their pockets in case they pass a red abalone and you can put kelp in front of an abalone and it will lurch up. It's really wild to watch. It will actually lurch up like a puppy dog
Video examples
Bono: Action for Africa
Lurching a little, but it's building. This year is a test for us all, especially the leaders of the G8 nations, who really are on the line here, with all the world in history watching.
Video examples
Deadly Snake Bite! PIPE...
his only hope is to make it to a hospital with a supply of the right anti-venom nearly an hour after being bitten bruce lurches a mile down the road to find help
Video examples
The Community of Food PIPE...
and I call up my fish purveyor and I was like, 'Michael, what exactly did you send me?' My language was of course perfectly gentlemanly, proper and prim. And he said, "Well, you know, we had a bad day of fishing but, you know, I didn't want to leave you in the lurch, so, we just sent you all the left over bait.
Video examples
The Train Heist PIPE Think...
is that it tells us how far the node is from the crane. So as soon as the variable hits 0, Hedge should hit the button. And here’s what happens. Ethic gets into position on the crane while Hedge rushes off and slips into the engine car unnoticed, just before the train lurches to life.
Video examples
Restoring a lost sense...
to get oriented what veronica santos is seeing in her lab is a robot that looks like it's drunk it's like lurching around from one side to another because it can't figure out what it's doing and with the help of virtual reality goggles cynthia could experience reality from
Video examples
10 years to transform...
And third, these systems are all linked like If you cross one tipping point, you lurch closer to others. Let's stop for a moment and look at where we are. The foundation of our civilization is a stable climate and a rich diversity of life.
Video examples
12 truths I learned from...
and kind of lurching along together. And I was surprised, but they said I could give a talk, and I said I'd love to. If you don't know where to start, remember that every single thing that happened to you is yours and you get to tell it.
Video examples
The tragic myth of the...
and the seas began to crackle and freeze. Startled, Phaethon sharply pulled the reins. The horses lurched and the chariot plunged towards the Earth's surface. Lakes boiled and forests burned as Phaethon struggled to pull the chariot up,
Video examples
Disgusting! Blue Whale...
I've ever been quite so excited about poo in my entire life a whale must have surfaced here just minutes before but our search is getting harder the waves are increasing and we're lurching about all over the place
Video examples
What a Sea Snail Die-off...
they keep in their pockets in case they pass a red abalone and you can put kelp in front of an abalone and it will lurch up. It's really wild to watch. It will actually lurch up like a puppy dog
Video examples
Bono: Action for Africa
Lurching a little, but it's building. This year is a test for us all, especially the leaders of the G8 nations, who really are on the line here, with all the world in history watching.
Video examples
Deadly Snake Bite! PIPE...
his only hope is to make it to a hospital with a supply of the right anti-venom nearly an hour after being bitten bruce lurches a mile down the road to find help
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Graydon Carter
American Journalist
It could fairly be said that the U.S. is increasingly out of step with the rest of the world. As our neighbors to the south elect left-wing or even socialist governments, we are lurching further to the right. As Europe becomes less engaged to the Church, we are becoming more fundamentalist.
Quote examples
Jennifer Egan
American Novelist
I haven't had trouble with writer's block. I think it's because my process involves writing very badly. My first drafts are filled with lurching, cliched writing, outright flailing around. Writing that doesn't have a good voice or any voice. But then there will be good moments.
Quote examples
Mike Barnicle
American Journalist
Politicians in Washington work in a small, sheltered world where they lurch from crisis to crisis that they create, nurture and use as ideological triggers in their selfish pursuit of re-election.
Quote examples
Lewis Thomas
American Scientist
In the fields I know best, among the life sciences, it is required that the most expert and sophisticated minds be capable of changing course - often with a great lurch - every few years.
Quote examples
Tove Jansson
Finnish Novelist
All men are chums who will never leave each other in the lurch. A chum doesn't forgive, he just forgets - women forgive everything but never forget. Being forgiven is very unpleasant.
Quote examples
Viv Albertine
British Musician
I get the same lurching thrill now when I'm about to sit down to an egg mayonnaise sandwich and a packet of plain crisps as I used to get when I fancied someone.
Quote examples
Jack Kemp
American Politician
Some people have theorized that I lurched to prove myself intellectually. But it was not any lurch. It was more a kind of awakening.
Quote examples
Alan Rickman
British Actor
I've never been able to plan my life. I just lurch from indecision to indecision.
Quote examples
Jeb Bush
American Politician
We awoke one morning in September, and the world lurched on its axis.
Quote examples
Bella Freud
English Designer
I love a star print. I always get a lurch if I see a nice one.
Quote examples
Graydon Carter
American Journalist
It could fairly be said that the U.S. is increasingly out of step with the rest of the world. As our neighbors to the south elect left-wing or even socialist governments, we are lurching further to the right. As Europe becomes less engaged to the Church, we are becoming more fundamentalist.
Quote examples
Jennifer Egan
American Novelist
I haven't had trouble with writer's block. I think it's because my process involves writing very badly. My first drafts are filled with lurching, cliched writing, outright flailing around. Writing that doesn't have a good voice or any voice. But then there will be good moments.
Quote examples
Mike Barnicle
American Journalist
Politicians in Washington work in a small, sheltered world where they lurch from crisis to crisis that they create, nurture and use as ideological triggers in their selfish pursuit of re-election.
Quote examples
Lewis Thomas
American Scientist
In the fields I know best, among the life sciences, it is required that the most expert and sophisticated minds be capable of changing course - often with a great lurch - every few years.
Quote examples
Tove Jansson
Finnish Novelist
All men are chums who will never leave each other in the lurch. A chum doesn't forgive, he just forgets - women forgive everything but never forget. Being forgiven is very unpleasant.
Quote examples
Viv Albertine
British Musician
I get the same lurching thrill now when I'm about to sit down to an egg mayonnaise sandwich and a packet of plain crisps as I used to get when I fancied someone.
Quote examples
Jack Kemp
American Politician
Some people have theorized that I lurched to prove myself intellectually. But it was not any lurch. It was more a kind of awakening.
Quote examples
Alan Rickman
British Actor
I've never been able to plan my life. I just lurch from indecision to indecision.
Quote examples
Jeb Bush
American Politician
We awoke one morning in September, and the world lurched on its axis.
Quote examples
Bella Freud
English Designer
I love a star print. I always get a lurch if I see a nice one.
Example 1 of 10
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