lame

-
lame /l'eɪm/ (lamer lamest)
1 [ADJ]
If someone is lame, they are unable to walk properly because of damage to one or both of their legs.
He was aware that she was lame in one leg...
David had to pull out of the Championships when his horse went lame.
[N-PLURAL] the N
The lame are people who are lame.
... the wounded and the lame of the last war.
2 [ADJ]
If you describe something, for example an excuse, argument, or remark, as lame, you mean that it is poor or weak.
He mumbled some lame excuse about having gone to sleep...
All our theories sound pretty lame.
= weak, feeble
● lamely [ADV] ADV with v
`Lovely house,' I said lamely.lame duck (lame ducks)
1 [N-COUNT] oft N n
If you describe someone or something as a lame duck, you are critical of them because they are not successful and need to be helped a lot.
...lame-duck industries.
2 [N-COUNT] usu N n
If you refer to a politician or a government as a lame duck, you mean that they have little real power, for example because their period of office is coming to an end.
...a lame duck government.

Popular posts from this blog

abreast

-
abreast / əbr'est / 1 [ADV] ADV after v, num ADV If people or things walk or move abreast , they are next to each other, side by side, and facing in the same direction. The steep pavement was too narrow for them to walk abreast. 2 [PREP-PHRASE] If you are abreast of someone or something, you are level with them or in line with them. As he drew abreast of the man he pretended to stumble. 3 [PREP-PHRASE] If you keep abreast of a subject, you know all the most recent facts about it. He will be keeping abreast of the news...
Read more

ablaze

-
ablaze / əbl'eɪz / 1 [ADJ] v n ADJ, v-link ADJ Something that is ablaze is burning very fiercely. Shops, houses, and vehicles were set ablaze. 2 [ADJ] v-link ADJ, usu ADJ with n If a place is ablaze with lights or colours, it is very bright because of them. The chamber was ablaze with light...
Read more

allowance

-
al|low|ance / əl'aʊəns / (allowances) 1 [N-COUNT] usu with supp, oft N of amount An allowance is money that is given to someone, usually on a regular basis, in order to help them pay for the things that they need. He lives on a single parent's allowance of £70 a week... 2 [N-COUNT] usu poss N A child's allowance is money that is given to him or her every week or every month by his or her parents. (mainly AM; in BRIT, use pocket money ) 3 [N-COUNT] usu with supp Your tax allowance is the amount of money that you are allowed to earn before you have to start paying income tax. (BRIT; in AM, use personal exemption ) ...those earning less than the basic tax allowance. 4 [N-COUNT] with supp A particular type of allowance is an amount of something that you are allowed in particular circumstances. Most of our flights have a baggage allowance of 44lbs per passenger. 5 [PHRASE] V and N inflect, oft PHR for n If you make allowances for something, y...
Read more