lam
noun
Lam — the criminal's flight, captured in a single, terse word
Definition
A rapid escape (as by criminals); "the thieves made a clean getaway"; "after the expose he had to take it on the lam"
In depth
The lam, almost always appearing in the fixed phrase 'on the lam,' names a rapid escape, especially one made by criminals fleeing pursuit or capture. The word carries a distinctly American, slightly old-fashioned criminal slang flavor, evoking pulp fiction and classic crime films more readily than formal legal writing.
Origin
The word's origin is debated, possibly related to an older slang sense of 'lam' meaning to beat or strike, with the phrase 'on the lam' emerging from early twentieth-century American criminal slang, where fleeing pursuit was sometimes described in terms borrowed from physical blows or rapid, forceful movement.
Usage examples
"After the exposé, he went on the lam, disappearing for nearly three years before investigators finally caught up with him."
"The old detective novels were full of characters on the lam, always one step ahead of the law."
"Being on the lam, she discovered, was far less glamorous in reality than it had ever seemed in films."
How to use it
Lam is informal, almost exclusively American slang, nearly always appearing in the fixed phrase 'on the lam.' It suits crime fiction, casual conversation, and deliberately colorful or retro-styled prose far better than formal or legal writing.
Related concepts
Looking for a word but don't know its name?
Try the Word Finder →