Definition of lame duck

The term "lame duck" originally referred to a drained swimming duck that could no longer fly due to exhaustion. In the 18th century, the phrase was adopted to describe a political figure who had lost the support of the people and could no longer defend themselves or their policies. This usage was greatly popularized in the United States, where a "lame duck" session refers to the period between elections when the outgoing president, members of Congress who have lost their reelections, or other officials who are about to leave office continue to serve out the remaining weeks or months of their terms. During this time, these individuals are considered politically impotent and have little influence on policy decisions, hence they are often referred to as "lame ducks."