on the lam

adjective

Running away, usually from the police; on the run.

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Meanings

adjectiveon the lam (not comparable)
  1. not comparableRunning away, usually from the police; on the run.

    The President: 'Hello... I am still on the lam from debt collectors.'

    2004, Nintendo EAD, Pikmin 2, Nintendo, space e-mail
    3 more examples

    Their top hitman, Joe Russo, was on the lam after murdering Joe Barboza in San Francisco.

    2007, Howie Carr, The Brothers Bulger

    There have been more bank runs, executives on the lam, arrests and credit panics than the country has seen in years.

    2012 September 15, “Vietnam: A Tiger at Bay”, in The Economist

    Charges of Russian meddling, including allegations of vote-buying by a Moldovan oligarch on the lam in Russia, could have substance.

    2024 November 25, Fred Weir, “In shifting world, post-Soviet states look back to a constant: Russia”, in The Christian Science Monitor

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
at largein the windon the looseon the run

Origin

From lam (“flight, escape”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German auf der Flucht
  • auf der Fluchtrunning away; on the run
Polish uciekający
  • uciekającyrunning away; on the run
Russian в бега́х
  • в бега́х (v begáx)running away; on the run
Swedish på fri fot
  • på fri fotrunning away; on the run
Cite this entry
APA

on the lam. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20lam

MLA

“on the lam.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20lam. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on the lam,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20lam.

Source: on the lam on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.