lean years

lean years — years of need, years of lack, years in which needed supplies or goods were not available …   English contemporary dictionary

fat years and the lean years — Годы изобилия и годы лишений. Хорошие годы и плохие годы. Взлеты и падения …   Idioms and examples

lean — Ⅰ. lean [1] ► VERB (past and past part. leaned or chiefly Brit. leant) 1) be in or move into a sloping position. 2) (lean against/on) incline from the perpendicular and rest against. 3) (lean on) rely on for sup …   English terms dictionary

lean — [[t]li͟ːn[/t]] ♦♦♦ leans, leaning, leaned, leant, leaner, leanest (American English uses the form leaned as the past tense and past participle. British English uses either leaned or leant.) 1) VERB When you lean in a particular direction, you… …   English dictionary

lean — I. /lin / (say leen) verb (leaned or leant /lɛnt/ (say lent), leaning) –verb (i) 1. to incline or bend from a vertical position or in a particular direction. 2. to rest against or on something for support. 3. to depend or rely: to lean on empty… …   Australian-English dictionary

lean — 1. v. & n. v. (past and past part. leaned or leant) 1 intr. & tr. (often foll. by across, back, over, etc.) be or place in a sloping position; incline from the perpendicular. 2 intr. & tr. (foll. by against, on, upon) rest or cause to rest for… …   Useful english dictionary

lean — lean1 [ lin ] (past tense and past participle leaned [ lind ] ) verb *** 1. ) intransitive lean forward/back/toward/across etc. to move your body so it is closer to or farther from someone or something, for example by bending at the waist: The… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

lean — I UK [liːn] / US [lɪn] verb Word forms lean : present tense I/you/we/they lean he/she/it leans present participle leaning past tense leaned UK [liːnd] / US [lɪnd] or leant UK [lent] / US past participle leaned or leant *** 1) [intransitive] to… …   English dictionary

lean — lean1 S3 [li:n] v past tense and past participle leaned or leant [lent] especially BrE [: Old English; Origin: hleonian] 1.) [I always + adverb/preposition] to move or bend your body in a particular direction lean forward/back/over etc ▪ They… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

lean — I [[t]lin[/t]] v. leaned (esp. brit.)leant, lean•ing, 1) to incline or bend from a vertical position: to lean out the window[/ex] 2) to incline, as in a particular direction; slant: The post leans to the left[/ex] 3) to incline in feeling,… …   From formal English to slang

lean — lean1 /leen/, v., leaned or (esp. Brit.) leant; leaning; n. v.i. 1. to incline or bend from a vertical position: She leaned out the window. 2. to incline, as in a particular direction; slant: The post leans to the left. The building leaned… …   Universalium