lame duck

lame duck  {n.},  {informal}
An elected public official who has been either defeated in a new election or whose term cannot be renewed, but who has a short period of time left in office during which he can still perform certain duties, though with somewhat diminished powers.
In the last year of their second terms, American presidents are lame ducks.
Categories: informal noun
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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