lamelame1 /leɪm/ adjective 
a lame doggo lame (=become lame) b)the lame [plural] people who are lame2a lame excuse or explanation is weak and difficult to believelame excuse/explanation She gave some lame excuse about missing the bus. a lame attempt to deflect criticism → lamely3informal boring or not very good SYN poor: A lot of the songs on this album are a bit lame. the company’s lame performance—lameness noun [uncountable]
WORD ORIGINlame1
Origin:
Old English lamaEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I don't want to hear any of your lame excuses for being late.
- It sounded lame but I really had lost my ticket.
- She's always got some lame excuse for being late.
- The party was lame.
- And while that makes him a lame duck, he still has his veto pen and his bully pulpit.
- His suspension was as lame as O. J. Simpson getting to do counseling over the telephone for domestic abuse.
- In Lexington's case her parents and grandparents had good hips and she is not lame.
- It may be desirable to spend what could otherwise be dole money on temporarily subsidizing lame ducks to ease the transition.
- Movement is always hard to assess at this age, but avoid any puppy who moves erratically or is obviously lame!
- The horse, like so many tonga horses, was lame.
Longman Language Activatorwhen something seems very unlikely to be true
difficult or impossible to believe: · The things he had heard about her were almost unbelievable.it is unbelievable how/that: · It's unbelievable how nasty people can be.· I find it unbelievable that Mr. Carey does not remember the meeting at all.
a story, explanation, or excuse that is unlikely cannot be believed because it is so unusual: · That sounds a pretty unlikely story to me!· Students invent all sorts of unlikely explanations as to why they can't do their homework.it is unlikely (that): · I think it's unlikely that the police had anything to do with it.highly unlikely: · It's highly unlikely that Burton will be the party's nominee.
a statement or event that is improbable is difficult to believe, even though it may in fact be true or may actually have happened: · The Rockets managed an improbable victory in last night's game.it is improbable that: · It's improbable that she would have been so successful without famous parents.highly improbable: · It's highly improbable that someone would win the lottery twice.
a statement or explanation that is implausible is difficult to believe because it is not like the way things usually happen: · Jill says she can earn $50,000 from the job, but this is an implausible figure.· The idea that a virus could wipe out an entire city so quickly seems a little implausible.
something that is incredible is so surprising or strange that it is difficult to believe, even though it is probably true: · This factory was capable of producing an incredible 100 cars per hour.it is incredible that: · It is incredible that the police still haven't caught him.
something that is inconceivable is so surprising or strange that it seems you cannot believe that it could possibly happen or be true: · The amount of time and money they have wasted on the project is inconceivable.it is inconceivable that: · It's inconceivable that university officials would fire someone as talented and loyal as Professor Schultz.
ideas, statements, and excuses that are unconvincing do not seem to be true or right and you cannot be persuaded to believe that they are: · Peter came to me with a rather unconvincing apology.· Their denial was unconvincing in view of the physical evidence linking them to the bombing.
an idea, story, or explanation that is far-fetched is difficult to believe because it sounds so surprising, unusual, or impossible: · The idea of travelling to other solar systems may sound far-fetched but scientists now see it as a real possibility.· His lawyers argue that the charges are based on a far-fetched conspiracy theory.
formal an idea, story, or explanation that is preposterous is impossible to believe because it sounds completely unreasonable: · It's a preposterous claim that the government is trying to poison its citizens.it is preposterous that: · It is preposterous that Bruce did not know that we were there.
an excuse or explanation that is lame is difficult to believe, because the person who says it has not tried hard enough to make it sound true: · She's always got some lame excuse for being late.· It sounded lame but I really had lost my ticket.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY She gave some lame excuse about missing the bus. a lame attempt to deflect criticismCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1 a)unable to walk properly because your leg or foot is injured or weak: (=become lame)
She gave some lame excuse about missing the bus. a lame attempt to deflect criticism (=very weak)· That’s the most pathetic excuse I’ve ever heard.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· The door is falling off its hinges; a sheet of plastic makes a lame attempt to keep out the wind.
· I thought, Don't know about a wild goose chase, this is a lame duck chase.· And while that makes him a lame duck, he still has his veto pen and his bully pulpit.· It may be desirable to spend what could otherwise be dole money on temporarily subsidizing lame ducks to ease the transition.· Bush is not merely treating Clinton as a lame duck.· He had turned out to be a lame duck and limped out of her life.· Anyway, even though he is Congress's lamest duck, Richardson is pretending that nothing is happening.· And Richie was no longer treating him like a lame duck.· The Houston Oilers are lame ducks.
· Stephen made lame excuses, saying Edward was jet-lagged and preferred to stay in his room.· It was a lame excuse, and I bluntly told him that he owed it to posterity to relate his story.· But every pretty maid had left, some without notice, others picking lame excuses from a hat.· It sounds a lame excuse, I know, but I never seem to be able to find the time.
a lame doggo lame (=become lame) b)the lame [plural] people who are lame2a lame excuse or explanation is weak and difficult to believelame excuse/explanation She gave some lame excuse about missing the bus. a lame attempt to deflect criticism → lamely3informal boring or not very good SYN poor: A lot of the songs on this album are a bit lame. the company’s lame performance—lameness noun [uncountable]