If you have a significant sum due you, you may find that the person who owes you may declare bankruptcy, leaving you holding the bag.

（もしあなたがかなりの額のお金を受け取る手はずになっているのなら、そのお金を支払うべき相手があなたに面倒を押し付けて、破産宣告するのを知ることになるかもしれません。）
　Susan Miller の西洋占星術、山羊座8月の予報より。嫌な予報だなコレ！

• "be left holding the bag" で、「他の人がとるはずだった責任を負わされる（to suddenly have to deal with a difficult problem or responsibility because someone else has decided they do not want to deal with it.／to be left as the only person responsible for dealing with a difficult situation, especially something someone else started）」という意味に。英国では bag が baby になって "be left holding the baby"。baby のほうが残された人間の途方にくれた感じが出る気が・・・。
  • He abandoned the project after a year because he felt that it was going to fail and I was left holding the baby.
  • He was left holding the financial baby when his musical partner joined another band.
  • When they quit the clean-up committee, Lucy was left holding the bag.
• 今日の例文のように"leave someone holding the bag/baby" でも使われる。
  • When the angry customer started to complain, my colleague disappeared and left me holding the baby.
  • Her friends said they were too busy to help with cleaning up, and left Lucy holding the bag.
  • If we loan the company money we want to be sure it won't fail and leave us holding the bag.
  • He left me holding the bag. I had to finish the work by myself.
  • After the accident, he just vanished and left me holding the bag.