left to handle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left to handle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is responsible for dealing with a situation or task that remains after others have completed their part. Example: "After the team finished their presentations, there were still a few issues left to handle before the project could be finalized."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

There simply were not enough people left to handle the work.

The New York Times

Zawahiri, whose reputation had been stained by his prison confessions, was left to handle tactical operations.

The New Yorker

And the younger Cubit was left to handle a train wreck of a season.

The New York Times - Sports

On the other flank, meanwhile, Rooney was left to handle Carles Puyol, who did get forward.

The Guardian - Sport

One can feel emotionally rejected, made the object of blame or speculations, or left to handle the emotional and practical difficulties of a death by suicide.

University of California, Berkeley

The daughter, left to handle the daily chores, dreams of the day she is free to go to South Africa & join the Anglican sisterhood.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

After telling his Major League Soccer team that he was leaving to handle a personal matter at home, midfielder Youri Djorkaeff went to Germany to attend France's stunning victory Saturday over Brazil in the World Cup.

Los Angeles Times

At Ford, he took leaves to handle public service assignments.

The New York Times

In addition, workloads and job security can make it tough to take unpaid leave to handle ID theft.

Forbes

Once Apple puts video content in the cloud, a device's local storage is left to just handle the trivial task of storing music and photos.

TechCrunch

Edinburgh were left to rue handling errors as the Dragons proved far more efficient at making possession count.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "left to handle" to clearly indicate who is responsible for the remaining tasks or unresolved issues after a process or event.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "left to handle" implies unlimited authority. Clearly define the scope of the task or issue to prevent misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left to handle" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone or something has been designated the responsibility of managing or dealing with a specific task or situation. Ludwig AI shows this phrase is commonly used to assign duties after a previous action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

12.5%

Less common in

Wiki

8.3%

Formal & Business

4.1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "left to handle" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that someone has been assigned the responsibility of managing a task or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent use across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academic writing. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, it's crucial to define the scope of responsibility to avoid misunderstandings. Alternatives like "tasked with managing" or "entrusted to deal with" can add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tasked with managing

Focuses on the act of assigning management responsibilities.

entrusted to deal with

Highlights the element of trust and delegation.

delegated to oversee

Emphasizes the delegation of oversight duties.

assigned to take care of

Directly indicates the assignment of caretaking duties.

responsible for addressing

Highlights accountability in addressing an issue.

given the duty of resolving

Focuses on the specific duty of resolution.

charged with sorting out

Emphasizes the responsibility of resolving a problem.

made accountable for

Stresses the aspect of being held accountable.

appointed to see to

Highlights the appointment to a specific task.

authorized to work through

Emphasizes the authorization to proceed with a task.

FAQs

How can I use "left to handle" in a sentence?

You can use "left to handle" to indicate responsibility. For example, "After the initial team completed the design, the engineers were "left to handle" the implementation phase".

What are some alternatives to "left to handle"?

Alternatives include "tasked with managing", "entrusted to deal with", or "responsible for addressing", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more formal to say "entrusted to deal with" instead of "left to handle"?

Yes, "entrusted to deal with" carries a slightly more formal and serious tone than "left to handle", which is more neutral. Consider your audience and the context when choosing between them.

When is it inappropriate to use "left to handle"?

It might be inappropriate if the situation involves highly sensitive or complex issues where a simple delegation of responsibility is insufficient. In such cases, phrases that emphasize collaboration or oversight might be more suitable.