lean into (someone or something)

lean into (someone or something)

1. To push into or press against someone or something. People in the audience behind me kept leaning into me throughout the concert. I leaned into the door to keep people from opening it. The wind is so strong in this city that you need to lean into it when you're outside.
2. To pursue some task or activity with great effort, determination, and perseverance. She's really been leaning into her gymnastics lately. At this rate, she could have a shot at a professional career. I gave up sports so I could lean into my studies.
3. To accept and embrace something as a means of dealing with it or turning it into something positive. Instead of trying to hide from your fame, why don't you try leaning into it a bit more? You'd probably enjoy life more if you did. The breakup still hurts, but after being in a relationship for so long, I'm finally starting to lean into being single.
4. To embrace and exaggerate some trait or characteristic, especially something ostensibly negative that has been attributed to one by someone else. The perverse language in my first book seemed to get the most heated reaction from readers, so I decided to really lean into it for the sequel. You can tell that he leans into the social agitator shtick simply because he knows how much it aggravates people.
See also: lean
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • set (someone, something, or oneself) up against (someone or something)
  • set up against
  • lean against
  • lean back against (someone or something)
  • lean toward
  • lean toward (someone or something)
  • lean toward doing
  • lean forward
  • lean out (of something)
  • lean out of