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Definition of lame duck noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

lame duck

noun
 
/ˌleɪm ˈdʌk/
 
/ˌleɪm ˈdʌk/
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  1. a person or an organization that is not very successful and that needs help
    • The government should not spend money on helping lame ducks.
    Topics Difficulty and failurec2
  2. (US English, informal) a politician or government whose period of office will soon end and who will not be elected again
    • a lame-duck president/administration
See lame duck in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: lame duck

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
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