lame duck

The expression "lame duck" can be heard in almost any American town or city, especially where people discuss politics. Most often, they use it to describe a politician who has come to the end of his power, a congressman, for example, who has a few more weeks in office and will then be out of a job.

There are a number of ideas as to where "lame duck" came from, although the picture is clear enough, a duck that has had its wings clipped or its webbed feet injured, and can no longer walk or waddle like a healthy duck.

The term seems to have crept into the American language some time after the Civil War of 1861-1865. One explanation is that it came from the language of hunters who felt that it was foolish to waste powder or time on a dead duck. And a lame duck, even a sitting duck, is close to being a dead duck.

Another explanation, however, says that the expression came from England. There it was used to describe a man who lost all his money in stocks, was cleaned out and could not pay his debts. He could do nothing but waddle off like a lame duck. And, so the story goes, people showed little mercy for the poor fellow.

But in the United States people took the phrase to describe a congressman who failed to get reelected but still had a little time left in office until his successor was sworn in.

In time, the expression was used in a broader sense, generally describing any man whose days of power were coming to an end. It has often been used to describe the position of an American president in the last two years or so of his second term. It is a difficult time for him, a time when Congress is ready to oppose him at every turn.

It may refuse to work with him simply because his days in the White House are numbered. His sun is setting. It is not a happy time. It is like old age coming on. And people, like animals, are cruel to lame ducks, ready to drive them out. Their eyes are already turned toward the new leader, the new man in command.

注解：
lame　跛脚的
politics　政治
out of a job　无业
wings clipped　被剪掉翅膀
webbed feet　蹼足
waddle　摇摆地走
creep into　爬进;悄悄进入
explanation　解释
powder　弹药
stock　股票
get reelected　获选连任
successor　继任人
be sworn in　宣誓就职
in a broader sense　更广泛的意义
at every turn　老是;常常
days .... are numbered　余日有限
in command　接掌，指挥