“On the lam” means “to escape.” “To lam” is a slang verb used to showcase this. It’s most prevalent in the case of escaping from the police, though it may appear in other situations too. Its origins date back to Old Norse, where the verb originally meant “to beat.” According to The Cambridge Dictionary, “lam” means … See more Let’s have a look at how we might be able to use the phrase in a few examples. We’ll include a couple of variations of it as well to give you as goo of an idea as we can. Remember, “on the lam” is usually related to being on the run … See more Let’s go over the origin of the word a little more to explain where it came from and why people use it. Obviously, the meaning for it now has been explained as “escaping.” However, it didn’t start like that. See more “On the lam” means that someone is running away from something, usually the police as we’ve mentioned throughout this article. “On the lamb” … See more So, what can we use if we don’t want to use “on the lam” as a slang term. Of course, it’s not the most formal phrase, so if you want to use something a bit more polite, you might … See more Webon the lam on the lam (English)Origin & history From Old Norse lemja. Adjective on the lam (not comparable). Running away, usually from the police; on the run.; 2012, The Economist, September 15th, Vietnam: A Tiger at Bay There have been more bank runs, executives on the lam, arrests and credit panics than the country has seen in years.; Translations on …

on Etymology, origin and meaning of on by etymonline

WebOct 6, 2024 · bedlam (n.) bedlam. (n.) "scene of mad confusion," 1660s, from colloquial pronunciation of Bethlehem, short for "Hospital of Saint Mary of Bethlehem" in London, which was founded 1247 as a priory, mentioned as a hospital by 1330 and as a lunatic hospital by 1402. It was converted to a civic lunatic asylum on dissolution of the … WebFeb 17, 2024 · In fact a lam was also a noun, for a heavy blow, used from the late 1500s. Both lam and baste have possible Old Norse roots. Baste may have been a word for whipping and lam was a verb for making somebody lame. The same lam gives us the idea of an escapee being “on the lam“, literally “beating it” along the road. alex stinton

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WebMar 1, 1998 · On the lam means ''running away'' or ''being a fugitive from the law''; bureaucrats would say ''in escape status.'' The origin of the expression is in heated dispute among slang etymologists. WebMencken's The American Language and The Thesaurus of American Slang proclaim that lam, lamister, and "on the lam"—all referring to a hasty departure—were common in thieves' slang before the turn of the 20th century. Mencken quotes a newspaper report on the origin of 'lam' which actually traces it indirectly back to Shakespeare's time. WebLame definition, physically disabled, especially in the foot or leg so as to limp or walk with difficulty: a lame racehorse. See more. alex stolicny motorcycle accident