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Lame Duck for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: leɪm_dək

What does Lame Duck really mean?

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Hey there! I'm here to help you understand what the term "Lame Duck" means. So, imagine you're at school, and it's the last day before summer break. You're already excited about all the fun things you're going to do during the break. But there's a twist! Your teacher, who is the boss of what happens in the classroom, has already decided everything for the day and won't be teaching anything new. They're just there to make sure the class is safe and in order.

Now, think of a duck. A duck with an injured leg. It can't walk or swim as well as the other ducks. It's not able to keep up with them or be as active. Well, in politics, a "Lame Duck" is a similar concept.

Imagine a politician who has been voted out of office, or is about to retire, but their term hasn't ended yet. They are like the injured duck, not able to do much or make any major decisions. People know that this is their last term, so they might not take their ideas or proposals seriously anymore. It's like the teacher on the last day of school; their power is limited because they won't be in charge for much longer.

Now, let me break it down even more. "Lame Duck" can refer to two different situations in politics. The first situation is when a president, governor, or other elected official has finished their term but the new person hasn't started yet. In this case, the "Lame Duck" is kind of like a place holder, waiting for the new person to take over. They don't have a lot of influence because everyone knows they're on their way out.

The second situation is when a politician has lost an election, but they're still in office until the new person is sworn in. During this time, they might feel a bit powerless because people may see their ideas as less important. It's like they're trying to swim with an injured leg, not able to keep up with the others.

So, to sum it all up, a "Lame Duck" is a politician who either has little power because their term is ending, or has lost an election and is waiting for the new person to take over. It's similar to the injured duck who can't keep up with the rest of the flock. I hope that makes sense, and feel free to ask any more questions!

Revised and Fact checked by Sophia Martinez on 2023-10-29 00:32:42

Lame Duck In a sentece

Learn how to use Lame Duck inside a sentece

  • After the election, the current president becomes a lame duck because they cannot run for another term.
  • During the last few weeks of the school year, some students may feel like lame ducks because they have already completed their assignments and exams.
  • When a company lays off a group of employees but keeps them on for a short period, they may be considered as lame ducks until their official termination date.
  • In a sports team, if a player gets injured and can no longer play for the rest of the season, they may be referred to as a lame duck.
  • If a person's car breaks down and they are unable to find a mechanic to fix it immediately, they might be stuck feeling like a lame duck until it gets repaired.

Lame Duck Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.