摘要：“lame duck”的起源可追溯至18世纪的伦敦证券交易所，最初用来指代拖欠债务、无法履行合约的经纪人。字面意为“跛脚的鸭子”，因跛脚鸭子难以跟上群体、易成为猎物，恰如其分地比喻了那些处境困窘、无力自保的交易者。19世纪中后期，该短语被引入美国政治领域，特指
“lame duck”的起源可追溯至18世纪的伦敦证券交易所，最初用来指代拖欠债务、无法履行合约的经纪人。字面意为“跛脚的鸭子”，因跛脚鸭子难以跟上群体、易成为猎物，恰如其分地比喻了那些处境困窘、无力自保的交易者。19世纪中后期，该短语被引入美国政治领域，特指“继任者已选出、任期将满且失去实权的官员或政府即（不能继续连任的）即将届满卸任的从政者或政府”，这一用法随后逐渐普及并延伸出更多语义。
lame duck核心语义
1. 政治领域：即将卸任、失去影响力的公职人员或政府（最常用场景）；
2. 通用场景：无能、不中用的人（物）；处境困难（不景气）、需要扶持的个人或机构；
3. 经济领域：濒临破产、难以维持的企业或行业。
如：
The outgoing ambassador was considered a lame duck, with no ability to influence bilateral negotiations.
这位即将离任的大使被视为跛脚鸭，已无法影响双边谈判。
After the mid-terms, the President becomes a lame duck, simply sitting out the time until retirement.
中期选举后，总统成了跛脚鸭，只是混日子等待退休。
He is getting used to life as a lame-duck president.
他正在习惯“跛脚”总统的生活。
Even a lame duck president can still issue executive orders that have lasting impacts. 《白宫风云》
即使是跛脚鸭总统，仍能签署具有深远影响的行政命令。
He is a lame duck manager who cannot even set clear goals for his team.
他是一个无能的经理，居然无法为他的团队设立明确的奋斗目标。
The lazy student was seen as a lame duck, always relying on others to finish assignments.
这个懒惰的学生被认为是扶不起的人，总依赖别人完成作业。
The outdated warship became a lame duck in modern naval battles, unable to compete with advanced vessels.
这艘过时的战舰在现代海战中沦为无用之物，无法与先进舰艇抗衡。
The water plant is a lame duck.
这家水厂经营不善。
When he failed the exam, he thought he was really a lame duck.
考试失败后，他认为自己很无用。
He’s such a lame duck friend—he never shows up when you need help.
他真是个不靠谱的朋友，你需要帮忙时他从不露面。
She realized he was a lame duck in relationships—never keeping his promises or investing emotionally.
她意识到他在感情里是个不靠谱的人——从不守信，也不愿投入真情。
No one wants to be stuck with a lame duck partner who avoids responsibilities in marriage.
没人愿意和婚姻中逃避责任的窝囊伴侣绑定终身。
He refused to date her because he thought she was a lame duck who couldn’t make her own decisions.
他不愿和她约会，因为觉得她是个没主见、事事依赖他人的人。
The government should not spend money on helping lame ducks.政府不应花钱扶持那些濒临倒闭的企业。
The once-thriving factory has become a lame duck due to poor management.
这家曾经兴旺的工厂因管理不善已成了扶不起的阿斗。
The company has completed its transformation from the lame duck of the motor industry into a quality car maker.
公司完成了从需要帮助的汽车企业到优质汽车制造商的转变。
The shipping industry had become a lame duck.
航运业已经成为一个需要帮助的行业。
Don’t waste your time on that lame duck company—it’s gonna collapse sooner or later. 《华尔街：金钱永不眠》
别在那家濒临破产的公司上浪费时间，它迟早会倒闭。
I can’t believe I dated such a lame duck—he forgot our anniversary and blamed it on work!
真不敢相信我居然和这样一个窝囊废约会——他忘了我们的纪念日，还把责任推给工作！《老友记》
The former champion was no longer the star he used to be—many considered him a lame duck, as he failed to win any competitions in his last two years.（. 2024年全国高考英语新课标I卷）
这位前冠军不再是他以前的明星了——许多人认为他是跛脚鸭，因为他在过去两年里没有赢得任何比赛。
来源：翅膀英语一点号