lame duck
noun
1
: one that is weak or that falls behind in ability or achievement
especially, chiefly British
: an ailing company
2
: an elected official or group continuing to hold political office during the period between the election and the inauguration of a successor
3
: one whose position or term of office will soon end
Examples of lame duck in a Sentence
The President was a lame duck during the end of his second term.
Recent Examples on the Web
But nearing the end of the first two years of his five-year single term allowed by the constitution, Yoon was likely to slip into a lame duck status, some analysts said.
—
Reuters, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
In fact, the Kishida-Biden summit will be on the same day as the National Assembly elections in South Korea, which could render Yoon a lame duck well before his term ends in 2027.
—Michelle Lee, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
If his party suffers a major loss, Mr. Yoon, 63, could essentially become a lame duck for the rest of his single, five-year term and could even face the threat of impeachment.
—Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Now, Mollenkopf has his work cut out for him: quickly recruiting a new CEO capable of fixing the company, mollifying shareholders who may become frustrated by Calhoun’s lame duck period, and bringing the board along with him without reproducing the result of the last search.
—Joe Moglia, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Kerr had been a lame duck coach up until this point, which is rare for a figure of his stature.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024
McCarthy might still be a lame duck heading into next season.
—USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2024
Nine years after Ohio State hoisted the inaugural national champion trophy, Michigan finds itself in the College Football Playoff championship against Washington, a soon-to-be Big Ten member representing the lame duck Pac-12.
—Detroit Free Press, 8 Jan. 2024
This dire view depends on every institutional bulwark of America’s system — from the courts to the military to public opinion — surrendering to a one-term president who, if history is any guide, will get rebuked in the midterms and become a lame duck by his third year in office.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 3 Jan. 2024
Reuters, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
In fact, the Kishida-Biden summit will be on the same day as the National Assembly elections in South Korea, which could render Yoon a lame duck well before his term ends in 2027.
—Michelle Lee, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
If his party suffers a major loss, Mr. Yoon, 63, could essentially become a lame duck for the rest of his single, five-year term and could even face the threat of impeachment.
—Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Now, Mollenkopf has his work cut out for him: quickly recruiting a new CEO capable of fixing the company, mollifying shareholders who may become frustrated by Calhoun’s lame duck period, and bringing the board along with him without reproducing the result of the last search.
—Joe Moglia, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Kerr had been a lame duck coach up until this point, which is rare for a figure of his stature.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024
McCarthy might still be a lame duck heading into next season.
—USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2024
Nine years after Ohio State hoisted the inaugural national champion trophy, Michigan finds itself in the College Football Playoff championship against Washington, a soon-to-be Big Ten member representing the lame duck Pac-12.
—Detroit Free Press, 8 Jan. 2024
This dire view depends on every institutional bulwark of America’s system — from the courts to the military to public opinion — surrendering to a one-term president who, if history is any guide, will get rebuked in the midterms and become a lame duck by his third year in office.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 3 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lame duck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near lame duck
Cite this Entry
“Lame duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lame%20duck. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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