lam into
B2 informal inseparable transitive
In simple words
To hit someone or something very hard, or to criticise someone very angrily.
Literal meaning: 'Lam' means to strike or beat, so 'lam into' means to beat into something or someone forcefully.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To attack someone physically with great force.
"Without warning, he lammed into the intruder with a barrage of punches."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To criticise or scold someone very harshly and angrily.
"The editorial lammed into the government's handling of the housing crisis."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Used for both physical violence and harsh verbal criticism. The word 'lam' is itself an informal term meaning to hit hard. More common in North American and Australian informal English. The verbal/critical sense is more frequent in modern usage.
Commonly used with
opponent critic government policy rival press
Forms
Base
lam into
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lams into
he/she/it
Past simple
lamed into
yesterday
Past participle
lamed into
have + pp
-ing form
laming into
continuous
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