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We used Temi to auto transcribe this, then Dan went through and checked it based on the show notes. He tried really hard on it, but this kind of stuff isn't his specialty. So if you notice anything confusing, please comment on this post so Dan can look at it and clarify anything.
Dan: 00:00 Welcome
to bunny trails a whimsical adventure of idioms and other turns of phrase. I'm
Dan Pugh. Shauna is on vacation this week. Well, vacation for the podcast.
Anyway, as we've mentioned before, Shauna works in public information and
communications for a school district, so between the end of year stuff and our
perennial spring storms here in Kansas, it's been a busy time for her. In fact,
I think we're still under a flood warning as I record this, so this week is
just you and I. As always, we're going to take an idiom or other turn of phrase
and tell the story of its beginnings or at least as close as we can get to them
and all the way from there to how it's used today. This week it's "on the
lam". Before I jump in, I want to revisit what an idiom means for our
purposes. We're using the Oxford English dictionary s version, "a form of
expression, grammatical construction phrase, etc. used in a distinctive way in
a particular language, dialect or language variety, a group of words
established by usage as having a meeting, not deducible from the meanings of
the individual words"
Dan: 01:07 Which
basically means if you read the phrase and are not a native speaker, you may
have difficulty understanding what that phrase means and that's what an idiom
would be. While we usually stick to idioms, we sometimes wander into metaphors,
similes, allegories and many other turns of phrase. We're less concerned about
what form of speech, the phrase is, and more concerned with following its story
from origins to current use. Another definition of idiom from the Oxford
English dictionary is "a distinctive style or convention in music, art,
architecture, writing, etc" Basically the "characteristic mode of
expression of a composer, artist or author"
Dan: 01:51 So
let's talk about the meaning of "on the lam". First I should note the
word lam is spelled L A M. There is no B at the end of it and as nothing to do
with baby sheep. On the lam, from the Oxford English dictionary means "to
run off, to escape, to 'beat it.'" And it is US slang.
Dan: 02:12 When
used today it's a way to describe a fugitive, someone that is on the run. I
think you'll find its origins make decent sense, especially when compared to
some of our other phrases. So let's start with the root of our phrase. The word
Lam. It comes from an old Norse word “lęmja”. I think that's how you say it,
which means lame. However, this Norse word was used as a verb, so it'd be more
accurate to say it means to lame as in to lame someone. It passed through old
English with this meaning though not pronunciation intact and became lam in the
15 hundreds. So the Oxford English dictionary says lam means "to beat
soundly, to thrash or to whack." And it is now used colloquially or
sometimes as a vulgar word.
Dan: 03:04 This
is attested as well in Thomas's Dictionary, which was written in 1596 and had
versions printed throughout several years after that. And they define lam as
"Defusto, to lamme or bumbast with strokes".
Dan: 03:19 Now
this brings us to the late 18 hundreds with our first attested usage of the
word lam being used to run. So lam before meant to beat or to lame someone, and
now it's being used to run in the late 18 hundreds in 1886 in Pinkertons, 30
years At Detective, he was writing about a pickpocket and said, "after he
has secured the wallet, He will utter the word Lam. This means to let the man
go and to get out of the way as soon as possible."
Dan: 03:51 We
also see this in Sherwood's Petrified Forest in the 19 hundreds (1936) it is
used four or five different times. Some examples "Say, boss—we better lam
out of here", meaning run out of here. Or, "I hear a car coming,
boss, we better lam". "When they get around we'll lam" all
meaning runaway.
Dan: 04:09 Which
sounds funny to me because that's not how I would use it these days. Uh, but
definitely how it was used in that timeframe. And then in addition to running
with lam, lamster or lammister, means "a fugitive or a person on the
run."
Dan: 04:25 I
should note just so that you understand my pronunciation there, lammister is L
a m m i s t e r, not Lannister like Cerci. So this lamster or a lammister was
used in the early 19 hundreds with examples like in the Number 1500: Life in
Sing Sing, "Lamaster: Fugitive from justice, one who forfeits bail
bonds"
Dan: 04:50 Or
in the magazine Clues in November, 1926 where they write "Lamster,
fugitive. Also a member of a pickpocket gang that leaves with the loot. "
Dan: 04:59 So
it'd be easy to see how one could use running away like on the lam to avoid
being beaten lammed and that may very well be the origins of the phrase and the
way this transition happens, a sort of thieves cant use to describe the
situation. I'm on the lam because if I get caught I will be beaten and that
would be bad.
Dan: 05:18 But
there is another explanation that warrants discussion as well. Another
transition of sorts. So lam of course means beating as in to make one lame and
then it transitioned to running using the transition "Beat it" seems
too easy. And in fact it is the phrase beat it meaning to get out of here or to
run off didn't actually take off until the 19 hundreds, but there's another
more logical explanation besides beat it, meaning to get out of here or run
away as being the transition. So while "beat" has meant to repeatedly
strike since the time of old English, so too has a figurative meaning of beat
been used.
Dan: 06:02 From
the Oxford English dictionary, "Said of the action of the feet upon the
ground in walking or running; hence, to beat the streets : to walk up and down.
to beat a path or to beat a track : to tread it hard or bare by frequent
passage; hence , to open up or prepare a way."
Dan: 06:20 this
is often used figuratively, which this actually makes good sense. Uh, it uses
modes that we have seen in language frequently and it gives us that most
logical transition from lam, meaning to beat and beat, meaning walking or
running to lam, meaning running to on the lam, meaning a fugitive, someone who
is running from something which is how we use the word lam today.
Dan: 06:45 Today's
show is sponsored by our patrons on patreon. You make bunny trails possible.
We'd like to thank all our patrons and especially our lagomorphology interns,
Charlie Moore, Pat Rowe, and Mary Halsig. Patreon.com is a subscription service
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more are all available at patreon.com/bunnytrailspod.
Dan: 07:22 I
found a song from English musician Kele off his 2010 debut solo album. The
boxer, it's a a dance electronic style song. The words, "There's a voice
in my head that I probably should have trusted from the start. From the start,
I finally flipped out and I'm hiring a detective to find out where I've been, where
I've been. "
Dan: 07:45 It
continues later in the song I'm here. "I've been hoping you would find me.
I'm here. I've been waiting, waiting for you. I'm here. I've been hoping you'd
find me on the lam, on the lam."
Dan: 08:01 While
dance and Electronica style songs are not my favorite. The lyrics here are very
poetic. Uh, I'm not sure if Kele wrote the lyrics or just performed the song,
but the lyrics themselves are, I liked it. I thought it highlighted the
knowledge that he's a little out of control in his own mind and he's trying to
figure out who he is and someone important comes along to help him discover
himself. And that's a, that's a very sweet story.
Dan: 08:36 In
a 2013 book on the lam, based on a true story, you'll find this true story of
Stanley Grauso. so here's the synopsis. "Based on the testimony of real
events. A compelling story that takes a look into the life of a young Stanley
Grauso, raised in a middle class Connecticut Italian family during Prohibition
years. Stanley's life soon spirals out of control, landing him in the company
of some of the most reputed mobsters of our time, including Charles
"Lucky" Luciano, Arthur Flegenheimer (aka Dutch Scultz), and F.
Donald Coster (aka Phil Musica). "
Dan: 09:15 There's
also a 2018 book called on the lam and here's its synopsis. This is a book I am
definitely going to be getting. "From the hilarious, oft-irresponsible
travel enthusiast, Auguste Gravel, comes the first installment of travel
stories that will make you shoot milk out of your nose and then shock you back
into your seat with the next paragraph. On the Lam is about leaving your
comfort zone and stepping into a world of travel and the unknown. It's a funny
book that provides advice for new or experienced travelers of any age. Each
chapter is a story full of adventures - or mishaps - that take place in five different
countries: Mexico, Egypt, the Dominican Republic, Germany and China. The reader
will learn about some of the norms of the country, as well as tips and advice
that make for a more efficient and street-savvy globe trotter. A perfect read
for a plane ride or while sitting waiting for a bus or train to another
destination. Quick, easy, funny and informative. The ideal book for when you're
On the Lam!"
Dan: 10:15 There's
also an artist agent company called Artists on the Lam, which is a play on the
founder's last name and our phrase. "Based in Chicago, Jenny Lam is an
artist, artist agent, independent curator, writer, and troublemaker. Here at
Artists on the Lam, she represents the most talented, exciting, and passionate
fine artists you haven't heard of yet--but will."
Dan: 10:41 You
can find more about Artists on the Lam at artistsonthelam.com or on their blog,
artistsonthelam.blogspot.com
Dan: 10:49 I
love phrases that come from cants. And this particular phrase seems to come
from a thieves cant style. A Cant is a jargon or a language that is used by a
group of people usually to mislead someone who might overhear it.
Dan: 11:05 I
think many people might be familiar through some, uh, role playing games where
a cant, is used like a thieves can't, like in dungeons and dragons or many
other role playing games that are out there. Uh, but it's also used by many
marginalized groups, uh, had their own cants and of course some criminal
elements as well. On the Lam is popularized through thieves cant, it provides a
dramatic and interesting background for this phrase. And I know that I'm
romanticizing language history a bit here, uh, but sometimes I think we need a
little romance in our lives and when it comes to words, I guess I'm just sappy
like that.
Dan: 11:40 Well,
that about wraps us up for today. I'd like to say a big thank you to those of
you who posted reviews for the show is the easiest way to support your favorite
podcast. Best of all, it's free.
Dan: 11:50 If
you want to talk, the best place would be on patreon, at
patreon.com/bunnytrailspod or you can hit me up on Twitter @bunnytrailspod.
Dan: 11:59 This
is our 46th episode and we're nearing a huge milestone for us, Episode 50, and
we need your help. Is there a turn of phrase that means something important to
you? Maybe a family phrase or a regional phrase you know and love. Well, we
want to hear about it. You can reach out to us on social media or email us
bunnytrailspod@gmail.com that's bunnytrailspod@gmail.com. We'd love to hear
about your favorite phrase and why you love it. The deadline to send your stuff
to us is Sunday, May 26th it can be written or you can send an audio file, or
if you just send us a message, we'll reach back out to you and we can talk
about it. And I want to say a special thanks to everybody who has already sent
stuff in, I am looking forward to episode 50 a lot. It will be a very fun
episode.
Dan: 12:46 Thanks
again for joining us. We'll talk to you again next week. And until then,
remember, words belong to their users.
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