Examples of lean and mean in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some are effectively lean and mean, like the narratively spare Open Water in 2003, or The Shallows from 2016, which is basically Blake Lively in a bikini being circled on a rock by a great white for 90 minutes.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025
Perhaps the chief exception is 2010’s lean and mean The Reef, while 2012’s Bait 3D earned points for its bonkers premise — sharks in a flooded supermarket!
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
The first two seasons were lean and mean at six episodes apiece, which allowed the creative team (these days led by showrunner John Wirth) to adapt Hillerman’s books without dragging things out.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2025
Fox has stayed lean and mean since selling most of its assets to Disney.
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 10 Jan. 2025
Guided By Voices get lean and mean on their 18th album in 10 years, Universe Room, out Feb. 7 via the band’s label.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2024
Today’s edition is lean and mean, given *waves hand around in the air.
—Byandrew Nusca, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2024
While canned tuna is lean and mean, sardines are delightfully rich.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 7 Oct. 2024
This approach keeps Cuban's to-do list lean and mean.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
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David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025
Perhaps the chief exception is 2010’s lean and mean The Reef, while 2012’s Bait 3D earned points for its bonkers premise — sharks in a flooded supermarket!
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
The first two seasons were lean and mean at six episodes apiece, which allowed the creative team (these days led by showrunner John Wirth) to adapt Hillerman’s books without dragging things out.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2025
Fox has stayed lean and mean since selling most of its assets to Disney.
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 10 Jan. 2025
Guided By Voices get lean and mean on their 18th album in 10 years, Universe Room, out Feb. 7 via the band’s label.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2024
Today’s edition is lean and mean, given *waves hand around in the air.
—Byandrew Nusca, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2024
While canned tuna is lean and mean, sardines are delightfully rich.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 7 Oct. 2024
This approach keeps Cuban's to-do list lean and mean.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Lean and mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lean%20and%20mean. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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