How do you use "Lame" in a sentence?

That party was so lame — we left after twenty minutes. Don't be lame, just come out with us tonight. He gave some lame excuse about his car breaking down again.

Lame

Q: What does "Lame" mean?

Something boring, uncool, or disappointing. 'Lame' is one of the most common American words for expressing that something is uncool or underwhelming. It can describe events, people, excuses, or ideas. While originally meaning physically disabled, the slang usage has been mainstream since at least the 1960s and is now its primary meaning in casual speech.

American Slang Term American ★★★★★ Very Common Casual

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Meaning: Something boring, uncool, or disappointing.

无聊的、不酷的、或令人失望的。

Algo aburrido, cutre o decepcionante.

つまらない、ダサい、期待外れなもの。

지루한, 쿨하지 않은, 실망스러운.

'Lame' is one of the most common American words for expressing that something is uncool or underwhelming. It can describe events, people, excuses, or ideas. While originally meaning physically disabled, the slang usage has been mainstream since at least the 1960s and is now its primary meaning in casual speech.

'Lame'是美国人最常用的表达某样东西不酷或令人失望的词之一。它可以用来形容活动、人、借口或想法。虽然原意是身体残疾，但这个俚语用法至少从1960年代起就已经是主流了，现在在日常用语中这是它的主要含义。

'Lame' es una de las palabras más comunes en Estados Unidos para expresar que algo es poco atractivo o decepcionante. Puede describir eventos, personas, excusas o ideas. Aunque originalmente significaba 'cojo', el uso coloquial lleva siendo habitual desde al menos los años 60 y actualmente es su significado principal en el habla informal.

「lame」は何かがダサい、期待以下だと表現する最も一般的なアメリカ英語のひとつ。イベント、人、言い訳、アイデアを表現できる。もとは身体障害を意味していたが、スラングとしての用法は少なくとも1960年代から主流で、現在はカジュアルな会話ではこちらが主な意味。

'Lame'은 무언가가 쿨하지 않거나 기대 이하라는 것을 표현하는 가장 흔한 미국식 단어 중 하나이다. 이벤트, 사람, 변명, 아이디어 모두에 쓸 수 있다. 원래는 신체 장애를 뜻했지만, 속어 용법은 적어도 1960년대부터 주류가 되었으며 현재 일상 대화에서는 이것이 주된 의미이다.

Examples

That party was so lame — we left after twenty minutes.
那个派对太无聊了——我们二十分钟就走了。
Aquella fiesta fue tan cutre — nos fuimos a los veinte minutos.
あのパーティーは超つまらなかった——20分で帰った。
그 파티는 진짜 재미없었어——20분 만에 나왔다.
Don't be lame, just come out with us tonight.
别这么扫兴，今晚跟我们出去玩吧。
No seas borde, ven con nosotros esta noche.
ダサいこと言わないで、今夜一緒に出かけようよ。
쿨하지 않게 굴지 말고, 오늘 밤 같이 나가자.
He gave some lame excuse about his car breaking down again.
他又编了个什么车又坏了的蹩脚借口。
Puso una excusa patética de que se le había averiado el coche otra vez.
彼はまた車が壊れたとかいうしょうもない言い訳をした。
그는 또 차가 고장났다는 시시한 핑계를 댔다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: dismissal, criticism, social judgment

Tone: dismissive, unimpressed

✓ Do Say

That movie was so lame.
那部电影太无聊了。
Esa película fue tan aburrida.
That movie was so lame.（あの映画は超つまらなかった。）
그 영화 진짜 재미없었어.
Don't be lame.
别这么扫兴。
No seas aguafiestas.
Don't be lame.（ダサいことすんなよ。）
구질구질하게 굴지 마.

✗ Don't Say

Avoid using 'lame' in contexts where physical disability could be implied — some consider this usage insensitive
避免在可能暗示身体残疾的语境中使用'lame'——有些人认为这种用法不够尊重
Evita usar 'lame' en contextos donde se pueda implicar una discapacidad física — algunos consideran este uso insensible
身体障害を連想させる文脈での使用は避けること——この用法を不適切と感じる人もいる
신체 장애가 연상될 수 있는 맥락에서는 사용을 피하는 게 좋다 — 일부에서는 이 용법이 부적절하다고 본다

Origin & History

From Old English 'lama' meaning physically disabled. The slang meaning of 'uncool' or 'pathetic' emerged in American English in the 1940s-50s and became widespread through youth culture in the 1960s-70s.

Cultural Context

Era: 1960s onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal