lame ducks
Soon-departing politicians
A lame duck is someone still in office after losing an election or reaching a term limit—functioning but soon to be replaced.
The term applies especially to U.S. presidents between November elections and January inaugurations: The lame duck president avoided major policy shifts.
By extension, any person or thing ineffective or powerless may be called a lame duck: The company became a lame duck after losing its biggest client.
- politiciansElected government representatives
- office holderElected position occupant
- placeholderTemporary position marker
- successorOne who replaces another
- speculatorsThose betting on markets
losers · defeat · bill · incumbents · transition · power vacuum · election · term · final days · outgoing · term limits · interregnum · caretaker · pond · limp · droop · understudy · quack
- Holdoversleftovers, remnants, vestiges, carryovers, residuals
lame ducksmovers and shakers
Influential, powerful people
go-getters · dynamos · shot callers · decision makers · heavy hitters
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