# on the lamb **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2001, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-lamb/50769 "2001-01-18T23:15:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aceospades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Aceospades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aceospades)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-lamb/50769/1 "2001-01-18T23:15:32Z")
where did the frase “on the lamb” come from? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Feet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c77e96/32.png) [@Happy\_Feet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Feet)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-lamb/50769/2 "2001-01-18T23:24:32Z")
There once was a Simpsons where Grandpa was caught scamming the nursing home. When he was running away, well riding I guess, on his electric wheel chair he yelled out. “Call me mint jelly, cause Im on the lamb!” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-lamb/50769/3 "2001-01-18T23:28:06Z")
Main Entry: 1lam Pronunciation: 'lam Function: verb Inflected Form(s): lammed; lam·ming Etymology: of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse lemja to thrash; akin to Old English lama lame Date: 1595 transitive senses : to beat soundly : THRASH intransitive senses 1 : STRIKE, THRASH \*\*2 : to flee hastily : SCRAM \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Opus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@Opus1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opus1)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-lamb/50769/4 "2001-01-18T23:28:17Z")
The American Heritage dictionary identifies the origin of the phrase “on the lam [no b]” as “unknown.” Which of course means it’s time to open up the board to wild speculation and B.S. etymologies from untrustworthy websites and chain e-mails. ---
**Author:** ![Opus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@Opus1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opus1)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-lamb/50769/5 "2001-01-18T23:31:16Z")
Okay, I see Johnny L.A. simulposted me. Just to clear up the confusion, his etymology _is_ listed in the AHED dictionary as the origin of the _word_ “lam,” meaning to beat. But the _phrase_, “on the lam,” is unrelated, at least according to AHED. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@King\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-lamb/50769/6 "2001-01-18T23:40:03Z")
Found this on another board, hope it helps. [http://www.shu.ac.uk/web-admin/phrases/bulletin\_board/6/messages/698.html](http://www.shu.ac.uk/web-admin/phrases/bulletin_board/6/messages/698.html)