lam
verb (used with object)
to beat; thrash.
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lams.
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:
Mr. Surkov was last reported to be on the lam.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 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
They went on the lam to Chicago, Florida, and Arizona, and points in between.
From Slate ● Dec. 18, 2024
Luke had never thought about this until just now, and it made him laugh, a little too loudly, seeing as he was officially on the lam.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
Lam, himself a former Samoan international, told Bristol's website, external he believed the club could help provide support to Auvaa and was the right place for him to develop on and off the field.
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
Earnings from Facebook-parent Meta and chip equipment maker Lam Research this week have beaten forecasts but seen their shares dive.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
Lam Research’s stock flattened out Friday, but it is down 16% this week after sharing a disappointing outlook that it blamed on supply-chain constraints.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
“Not just land but the Lam Sing Refugee Camp,” the captain says confidently.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
At the bottom of these sands a green clay occurs, containing a small oyster, Ostrea cyathula, Lam., which, although of slight thickness, is spread over a wide area.
From The Student's Elements of Geology by Sir Charles Lyell
How deeply, from this point of view, the loss of the king was felt, at the time when that which is here merely the ideal present became the real present, is seen from Lam. iv.
From Christology of the Old Testament: And a Commentary on the Messianic Predictions, Vol. 1 by Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg
All that they can do in such a subject is, to see vain and foolish things, and not to discover the land's iniquity, but to see false burdens, and causes of banishment, Lam. ii.
From A Hind Let Loose Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ. With the True State Thereof in All Its Periods by Alexander Shields
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
It is good for a man to bear this yoke in his youth, Lam. iii.
From The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning by Hugh Binning
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
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
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
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
I don’t blame you, now, for lamming me over the ear like you done.
From The Mesa Trail by H. Bedford-Jones
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
Look at the old crook now, still lamming that axe round to beat the cars because he thinks he's being watched!
From Somewhere in Red Gap by Harry Leon Wilson
I thinks that lamming is about due now.
From Danny's Own Story by Don Marquis
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.
