From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbe left holding the babybe left holding the babyBritish English, be left holding the bag American English to be left as the only person responsible for dealing with a difficult situation, especially something someone else started He was left holding the financial baby when his musical partner joined another band. → hold
Examples from the Corpus
be left holding the baby• The difference is that you were left holding the baby.• Then he does something stupid with a television researcher and is left holding the baby. 