mean for

mean for

1. To intend for something to be received, heard, or understood by a particular person. A noun or pronoun can be used between "mean" and "for"; often used in passive constructions. Sorry, my question was actually meant for Mrs. Roberts. I never meant those criticisms for you! You ate them all? But those cookies were meant for the children!
2. To be of importance, significance, or worth to one. A noun or pronoun can be used between "mean" and "for." It's hard to quantify what this amazing gift means for our community, but suffice to say that it will change many lives for the better. Criticism like that doesn't mean anything for me.
See also: mean
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

mean something for someone or something

 
1. Lit. to imply something important for someone or something; to be important or meaningful for someone or something. Are your comments supposed to mean something special for me? I mean these remarks for the government.
2. Fig. to intend for someone or something to have or receive something. Do you mean this gift for me? I mean this gift for the entire community.
See also: mean
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • empty in(to) (something)
  • empty into
  • enlist in
  • enlist in (something)
  • count in
  • (Is) this taken?
  • batten
  • batten down
  • copy out
  • copy out (by hand)
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Table 3 showed the results of treatment mean for the length of stipe or stem in centimeter at every 8 days 0f harvesting.
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The standard error of the mean for the pretest social responsibility data was SE = .0658.
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The regular admission group discrepancy mean, -14.6 (16.9), was larger than the developmental group mean for the -8.36 (14.6) and in opposite the direction hypothesized.
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