
On the lam
Crime Related
Used specifically when someone is hiding to avoid being caught by the police.
After the heist, he went on the lam.
Urgency and Desperation
Implies a sense of urgency or desperation to avoid capture, not a leisurely hiding.
Desperate to avoid jail, she was on the lam, moving from city to city.
Cultural Usage
Most commonly used in North American English and often found in crime novels or movies.
The detective novel described how the thief was on the lam for months.
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension