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lam1
See synonyms for lamTranslate lam into Spanish
transitive verblams, lamming, lammed
[with object]1informal Hit (someone) hard.
- ‘I'll come over and lam you in the mouth in a minute’
- ‘Will Afghanistan - or what remains of it after decades of mayhem, following the Soviet attack that lammed into that country from 1979-have been pounded?’
- ‘A Thompson lubed wad is seated over the powder, and then a Speer.457’ round ball is lammed home.’
hit, strike, slap, smack, cuff, punch, beat, thrash, thump, batter, belabour, drub, hook, pound, smash, slam, welt, pummel, hammer, bang, knock, swat, whip, flog, cane, sucker-punch, rain blows on, give someone a beating, give someone a drubbing, give someone a good beating, give someone a good drubbing, box someone's earsView synonyms- 1.1lam intono object Attack.
- ‘they surged up and down in their riot gear, lamming into anyone in their path’
Origin
Late 16th century perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Norwegian and Danish lamme ‘paralyze’.
lam2
See synonyms for lamTranslate lam into Spanish
intransitive verblams, lamming, lammed
[no object]informal North AmericanEscape; flee.
- ‘we'd better lam before the cops show up!’
- ‘Jet Li plays the part of Han Sing, doing durance vile in the Hong Kong lockup, taking the fall for his dad, Ch'u Sing (Henry O) who lammed out of Honkers for San Francisco, the Chinese fuzz hot on his larcenous heels.’
- ‘I lammed, ran faster than I'd run since being made cabin boy for Kapitan Sergei, with the store owner close behind.’
- ‘To avoid being killed by Archie's men, they lam it with Shorty who takes them to where he's been living in Boston.’
Phrases
- on the lam
In flight, especially from the police.
- ‘the boys were on the lam for four days before they were caught’
North American informal
Origin
Late 19th century from lam.
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