lam
verb (used with object)
to beat; thrash.
lam
1 American
[lam]
/ læm /
verb (used with object)
lammed,
lamming
verb (used without object)
lammed,
lamming
lam
2
American
[lam]
/ læm /
noun
verb (used without object)
lammed,
lamming
idioms
-
on the lam, escaping, fleeing, or hiding, especially from the police.
He's been on the lam ever since he escaped from jail.
-
take it on the lam, to flee or escape in great haste.
The swindler took it on the lam and was never seen again.
lām
3
American
[lahm]
/ lɑm /
noun
Lam
4
American
[lahm, lam]
/ lɑm, læm /
noun
lam.
5
American
abbreviation
Lam.
6
American
abbreviation
Bible.
lam
1
British
/ læm /
noun
-
a sudden flight or escape, esp to avoid arrest
-
-
making an escape
-
in hiding
-
verb
lam
2
British
/ læm /
verb
-
(tr) to thrash or beat
-
(intr; usually foll by into or out) to make a sweeping stroke or blow
Lam.
3
British
abbreviation
lam
More Idioms
Etymology
Origin of lam1
1590–1600; < Old Norse lamdi, past tense of lemja to beat; akin to lame 1
Origin of lam2
1885–90; special use of lam 1. Compare beat it! be off!
Origin of lām3
From Arabic; see origin at lambda
Explanation
The verb lam has two meanings: to hit or to run away. If you see a bully making little kids cry, you may be tempted to lam him in the nose and then lam before he can retaliate. The British slang meaning of lam, "hit or beat," is the oldest one, dating from the 16th century. It stems from an Old Norse root that means "to beat" or "to make lame." The newer, North American definition, "escape," can also be used as a noun: "After he stole his cousin's car he went on the lam." Experts trace this meaning back to slang used by pickpockets.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
While on the lam, Diamantis has tossed aside the standard fugitive playbook.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Before long, Frank and the Bride are on the road and on the lam, invigorating the nation in their path.
From Salon ● Mar. 8, 2026
Monkeys on the lam in St. Louis and AI isn’t helping.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 15, 2026
Two tough women: Aminah Nieves as Teonna, who is on the lam.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2025
She was going to confront him, and our parents, and she was asking me to stand with her. lam doing this with or without you.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
"His agent reached out to me to see if I would be willing to help him and give him a second chance," Bristol's director of rugby Pat Lam said.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
The BBC's Lana Lam asked Sydney residents: how long will it take you to get to WSI?
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
Lam Research, Applied Materials, and KLA are all under pressure.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
Semiconductor equipment maker Lam Research, No. 3 on the list, sees AI as both a growth opportunity and a competitive advantage, according to Ava Harter, its senior vice president and chief legal officer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
Every morning a row of trucks carrying bags of rice, fish, and tanks of fresh water comes blaring into Lam Sing.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
In one collection of these shells, there were some valves of the Venus sinuosa, Lam., the same species found with the Mactra on the banks of the Uruguay.
From Geological Observations on South America by Charles Darwin
And concerning that which is supernal it is written, Lam. ii.
From Hebrew Literature by Epiphanius Wilson
John Yeardley had a pretty long time next, from Lam. iii.
From Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel by John Yeardley
Ostrea edulis, Triton cutaceum, Lam., and Buccinum serratum, Brocchi, the beds varying in thickness from one to eighteen inches 10 0 4.
From Principles of Geology or, The Modern Changes of the Earth and its Inhabitants Considered as Illustrative of Geology by Sir Charles Lyell
Caryophylla fastigata, Lam.; and Porites subdigitata, Lam.: the only shell that we observed upon the reef was a Delphinula laciniata, Lam.
From Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia Performed between the years 1818 and 1822 — Volume 2 by Phillip Parker King
The diversion which enthralls him most is golf, and once golf awarded him its most coveted prize: four months ago he lammed out a hole in one.
From Time Magazine Archive
Elia Kazan was casting Inge's new Broadway production, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, and when Tuesday Weld suddenly lammed for Hollywood, Sandy became understudy for two roles.
From Time Magazine Archive
But before a damage suit could be prosecuted, the spiritual leader of 20 million Ismali Moslems lammed out of town.
From Time Magazine Archive
Last week he lammed out for good, dying at 86 on his upstate New York farm.
From Time Magazine Archive
Like kingpins, one steel tier lammed into another, then they all crashed to the floor with a sound as of the roof falling.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
Shinners, scalpers, and tweaks are good too—jolly good!… but of course all this comes after lamming and tunding….
From Snake and Sword A Novel by Percival Christopher Wren
"You went to Joe Pepper's room for the purpose of lamming him?" repeated old Mr. King, darting out of his chair.
From Five Little Peppers Grown Up by Margaret Sidney
You had to keep lamming and maybe you never got a chance to enjoy it.
From Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942 by Various
I don’t blame you, now, for lamming me over the ear like you done.
From The Mesa Trail by H. Bedford-Jones
I was bound to get a lamming purty soon anyhow.
From Danny's Own Story by Don Marquis
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
