Street
on the lam
What does on the lam mean?
To be on the lam is to be a fugitive, fleeing or hiding from law enforcement. To 'take it on the lam' is to run.
"He'd been on the lam for months, moving from town to town."
Origin
American slang, c.1900; from 'lam,' to beat/run, of Scandinavian origin.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'on the lam' mean?
To be on the lam is to be a fugitive, fleeing or hiding from law enforcement.
Where does 'on the lam' come from?
It is American slang from around 1900, from 'lam,' meaning to beat or run, of Scandinavian origin.
Is it 'on the lam' or 'on the lamb'?
The correct spelling is 'on the lam.' 'On the lamb' is a common misspelling, since the two sound identical.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
