on the lam

phrase

US, informal
: trying to avoid being caught by the police
two escaped convicts on the lam

Browse Nearby Words

on-the-job training
on the lam
on the latch
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Cite this Entry

“On the lam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20lam. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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