`ref_binding_to_reference` advises to return a reference that doesn't live long enough

Summary

When the ref-d binding is returned from the match:

fn foo(x: String) {
    let _: &&String = match &x {
        ref x => x,
        _ => return,
    };
}

then replacing that with:

fn foo(x: String) {
    let _: &&String = match &x {
        x => &x,
        _ => return,
    };
}

doesn't work, as &x references a local binding x, and thus can't live outside the match.

Lint Name

ref_binding_to_reference

Reproducer

I tried this code:

#![allow(unused)]
#![warn(clippy::ref_binding_to_reference)]

fn foo(x: String) {
    let _: &&String = match &x {
        ref x => x,
        //~^ ref_binding_to_reference
        _ => return,
    };
}

I saw this happen:

warning: this pattern creates a reference to a reference
 --> src/lib.rs:6:9
  |
6 |         ref x => x,
  |         ^^^^^
  |
  = help: for further information visit https://rust-lang.github.io/rust-clippy/rust-1.96.0/index.html#ref_binding_to_reference
note: the lint level is defined here
 --> src/lib.rs:2:9
  |
2 | #![warn(clippy::ref_binding_to_reference)]
  |         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
help: try
  |
6 -         ref x => x,
6 +         x => &x,
  |

I expected to see this happen:
no warning, as the result of the fix above:

#![allow(unused)]
#![warn(clippy::ref_binding_to_reference)]

fn foo(x: String) {
    let _: &&String = match &x {
        x => &x,
        //~^ ref_binding_to_reference
        _ => return,
    };
}

doesn't compile:

error[E0597]: `x` does not live long enough
 --> src/lib.rs:6:14
  |
6 |         x => &x,
  |         -    ^-
  |         |    ||
  |         |    |`x` dropped here while still borrowed
  |         |    borrowed value does not live long enough
  |         binding `x` declared here

Version

rustc 1.96.1 (31fca3adb 2026-06-26)
binary: rustc
commit-hash: 31fca3adb283cc9dfd56b49cdee9a96eb9c96ffd
commit-date: 2026-06-26
host: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
release: 1.96.1
LLVM version: 22.1.2

Additional Labels

@rustbot label I-suggestion-causes-error