Phrases.com »

Phrases related to: lean and mean

Yee yee! We've found 3,481 phrases and idioms matching lean and mean.

Sort:RelevancyA - Z
lean and meanEfficient because of having nothing in excess of what is needed, and single-minded in one's objective.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
lean inTo shift one's weight forward; to lean forward or towards something.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
lean inTo proactively take charge of a situation; to be bold in exerting one's will in a situation.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
lean intoTo accept something negative but unchangeable; to find a way to benefit from, or alleviate the harm of, risk, uncertainty and difficult situations.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
lean onTo apply pressure on.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
lean onTo depend upon for support.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
lean toshedRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
lean towardsTo favor in a decision.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
if you know what I meanUsed to allude to something unsaid or hinted at.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
what does XX meanUsed to ask the meaning of a word.Rate it:

(3.40 / 10 votes)
know what i mean?Do you understand?Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
mean businessTo be serious, especially where achieving a specific end against opposition is concerned.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
mean streakA defect in character characterized by persistent nastiness, viciousness, or malevolence.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
mean the world toTo be loved or cared about a great deal by.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
mean toTo intend to.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
no mean featA laudable triumph of great difficulty.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
treat them mean, keep them keenA woman will be more interested in a man if he is not kind to her.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
what do you meana request for clarification of an anterior statement or questionRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
you know what I meana phrase used to attempt to get the interlocutor to agreeRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
Appendix:Snowclones/I'm here to X A and Y B, and I'm all out of ASaid before doing something, usually with a determined, resolute tone.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetimeIt is more worthwhile to teach someone to do something than to do it for them.Rate it:

(4.00 / 9 votes)
give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetimeIt is more worthwhile to teach someone to do something, than to do something for them.Rate it:

(3.00 / 5 votes)
Adam and Eve not Adam and SteveImplying that only heterosexual relations are normal.Rate it:

(2.25 / 4 votes)
Appendix:Snowclones/X and Y and Z, oh my!Expresses awe at three things.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
...and that's the way it isThe phrase "...and that's the way it is" is used to repeat Walter Kronkite's quote and/or to signify the conclusion of something like a piece of new news or that elude to the fact that what was just said is true or an account of something that really did happen; a way of putting a stamp of approval on what was just stated; same as "and there you have it folks"Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
a boon and a baneSomething that is both a benefit and an affliction.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
above and beyond the call of dutyExtremely heroic, more heroic that what is expected.Rate it:

(5.00 / 2 votes)
airs and gracesTo act in a pretentious or pompous manner; to put on airs and graces, derogatory term for one acting above their social status.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
all work and no play makes jack a dull boyToo much focus on one's career is often viewed unfavorably.Too much hard work and not enough leisure time can be unhealthy.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
and all thisUsed at the end of a statement to insinuate that there is more information that can be inferred from the preceding.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
and so onIndicates that a list continues in a similar manner.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
and then someUsed to confirm preceding utterance, while implying that what was said or asked is an understatement.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
Banbury story of a cock and a bullA roundabout, nonsensical story.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
between a rock and a hard placeHaving the choice between two unpleasant or distasteful options; in a predicament or quandary.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bind and grindMonotony and tediousness of everyday routine. Be it work or home related.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bits and bobsA random assortment of things; small remaining pieces and things.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
black and whiteA type of giant cookie with icing on the top side: half white, half dark chocolate.Rate it:

(5.00 / 2 votes)
black and whiteA police patrol car.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bright and earlyearly in the morningRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bright-eyed and bushy-tailedneatly attired, well dressed.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
by leaps and boundsRapidly. Said of making progress.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
by/in leaps and boundsvery quickly, in large amountsRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bygones be bygones, and fair play for time to comeLet all past wrongs be forgotten, with a resumption of cordial relations.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
chalk and cheeseSaid of things that are superficially alike but very different in substance.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
check and balanceProvide mutual oversight and limitation by independent organizations in order to prevent abuses of power.Rate it:

(5.00 / 2 votes)
come and goTo repeatedly appear and disappear (said especially of a feeling or pain)Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
damned if one does and damned if one doesn'tA dilemma where either choice results in a negative outcome.Rate it:

(5.00 / 3 votes)
day and nightAll the time; round the clock; unceasingly.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
don't be penny wise and pound foolishDon't be careful when it comes to spending small amounts of money, but careless when spending much larger amounts.Don't focus on minutiae and lose sight of the big picture; don't obsess over tiny inconsequential efficiencies while glaring inefficiencies are going on elsewhere.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
doom and gloomFeeling, or acting in a manner consistent with, pessimism and despair.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)

We need you!

Help us build the largest human-edited phrases collection on the web!

Alternative searches for lean and mean:

Quiz

Are you a phrases master?

»
You should never judge a book by its ________.
A story
B reputation
C cover
D ratings

Browse Phrases.com

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ