idioms using “left”

Out of left field

To come suddenly from an unexpected direction

“We thought the president agreed to the plan so his refusal to sign the contract was really out of left field.”

Two left feet

To be clumsy, awkward

“Yasui-san refuses to dance in public; she says she has two left feet.”

Be left hanging in the air

To have no conclusion or answer

“Unfortunately, the advertising committee didn’t reach a decision on Friday so we are left hanging in the air until Monday.”

Left and right and center

Quickly or everywhere, with no pattern

“The investment company has been losing clients left, right, and center the past few months.”

The left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing

Used to mean that a large organization doesn’t communicate well internally

“Since the merger, we have conflicting information from two different departments; the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.”