bean counting
noun
usually disparaging
: financial decision-making or analysis done by bean counters
We see ignorance in the bureaucratic bean counting that threatens to overtake thoughtful, well-informed teaching.—
English Journal
English JournalExamples of bean counting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In his newest book, Inka History in Knots, published in April, Urton interprets khipus to describe a two-year calendar of labor assignments, a census reporting the social status of groups in a village, and bean counting (literally) at Inkawasi.
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 4 Jan. 2019
Arguably, their atypical strategy, based on shelling out £790 million for the club with a £600 million loan, and then paying the interest by milking the team for steady returns, was the best that soccer bean counting could ever achieve.
—Jon Sindreu, WSJ, 23 Nov. 2022
Minnesota State Auditor Julie Blaha's enthusiasm for bean counting is surpassed only by her enthusiasm for pasting those beans into award-winning crop art.
—Star Tribune, 13 Mar. 2021
These have stemmed from a culture of excessive bean counting in plane construction—not product decisions, which have been sound.
—Jon Sindreu, WSJ, 15 Jan. 2020
The individual, who was an attorney in the civil division of the office, said O’Connell fostered an anxiety among his employees through his frequent angry outbursts and constant bean counting of his employee’s political contributions.
—Andrew Keiper, Fox News, 22 May 2018
Festivities include a raffle, jelly-bean counting contest and a visit from the Easter Bunny.
—'sam' Boyer/special To Cleveland.com, cleveland.com, 16 Mar. 2018
Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 4 Jan. 2019
Arguably, their atypical strategy, based on shelling out £790 million for the club with a £600 million loan, and then paying the interest by milking the team for steady returns, was the best that soccer bean counting could ever achieve.
—Jon Sindreu, WSJ, 23 Nov. 2022
Minnesota State Auditor Julie Blaha's enthusiasm for bean counting is surpassed only by her enthusiasm for pasting those beans into award-winning crop art.
—Star Tribune, 13 Mar. 2021
These have stemmed from a culture of excessive bean counting in plane construction—not product decisions, which have been sound.
—Jon Sindreu, WSJ, 15 Jan. 2020
The individual, who was an attorney in the civil division of the office, said O’Connell fostered an anxiety among his employees through his frequent angry outbursts and constant bean counting of his employee’s political contributions.
—Andrew Keiper, Fox News, 22 May 2018
Festivities include a raffle, jelly-bean counting contest and a visit from the Easter Bunny.
—'sam' Boyer/special To Cleveland.com, cleveland.com, 16 Mar. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bean counting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Bean counting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bean%20counting. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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