lame (redirected from lames)

a lame duck

1. a person or company that is in trouble and needs help. In under two years, it was transformed from a state-owned lame duck into a successful company.

(mainly American)

2. someone, especially an elected official, who cannot influence events any more, often because their job is going to end soon. The Mayor intends to run for re-election to avoid being thought of as a lame duck.

See also: duck

lame-duck (mainly American)

a lame duck - someone, especially an elected official, who cannot influence events any more, often because their job is going to end soon. Having lost control of Congress, he was in danger of becoming a lame-duck president. (always before noun)