lean times

lean times

A period of time in which money is not plentiful or one is not successful. Judging from our earnings forecast for the next quarter, we're heading into some lean times. Those were lean times after my father lost his job.
See also: lean, times
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*lean times (ahead)

Fig. a future period of lowered income or revenue; a future period when there will be shortages of goods and suffering. (*Typically: be ~; cause ~; have ~; mean ~.) The economy is going sour which means lean times ahead.
See also: lean, times
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • not for a second
  • not for a minute
  • not for a moment
  • not for a/one minute/moment/second/instant
  • not for a instant
  • aint
  • ain't
  • be like ships in the night
  • by no means
  • not by any means
References in periodicals archive
Traditional wrapping might even do some good for the newspaper industry, which is going through very lean times.
Are we to return to a top fish and chip tradition?
If past performances are anything to go by they can expect some lean times ahead.
Socialism just doesn't work; Letters
Operators of the ferry, Jean and Francis Knight, say that the additional money from NatWest has allowed the service to continue, with Jean Knight adding "Winters are always very lean times because we're a seasonal business, but this year the passenger numbers are even lower than normal."
Natwest provides loan to historic ferry service
"Our message to our employees is that while we are currently going through some lean times, we view this as a short-term hiccup and that our long-term outlook is strong," said General Manager Derek Neumann.
Wash. manufacturer lays off up to 100 workers, but says long-term outlook positive
LEAN TIMES n Amy Lennox at Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin yesterday
Show gets booked up
It is a cost the country should not shoulder during lean times. It is of, course, my opinion that the Assembly is a big enough drain on resources as it is.
Expensive rebrand; & COMMENT DEBATE YOUR LETTERS TO THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF WALES
WILDLIFE experts from the North East have welcomed the deputy Prime Minister's suggestion that "lean times can be green times."
Clegg's pledge welcomed
Thegreatjohnbrowne (1.40) takes a step up in class in the Florida Pearl Novice Chase but could be up to it, while Lean Times (3.25) ran a cracker over course and distance last month when pipped on the post by Ferris Bueller - and has a fine chance of going one better.
Voler La Vedette: She's a good bet
PUNCHESTOWN: 12.35 Sivota, 1.05 Realt Dubh, 1.40 Erritt Lake, 2.15 Voler La Vedette, 2.50 Time Machine, 3.25 Lean Times, 3.55 Quiet Thought DOUBLE: Forpadydeplasterer and Bench Warrent.
TODAY'S TIPS
The fiscally minded Verizon Arena staff managed to check off a couple of items on its wish list despite lean times.
Trash talk
Margaret Sinclair, Glasgow HANDING out money for building better houses and demolishing these high rise flats, is a bit of 'pie in the sky' given the lean times ahead.
Flats refusal; Yourview
Not merely because they're therapeutic or because they provide healthy foods or even because they give us a hedge against lean times, but rather, because, if you look at the big picture, they offer us that thing that we all crave so dearly.
Growing possibilities
Online retail sales, which had been growing around a robust +20 percent the last few years, fell for the first time in November 2008, and Internet merchants started offering steep discounts to anyone willing to punch in a secret coupon code or visit a rebate site for a "referral" before loading up their virtual shopping cart.New marketing tools are needed during lean times. Online coupons are catching on.
Digital Bargain-Hunters
"Food Security for the Faint of Heart: Keeping Your Larder Full in Lean Times" is a book about preparation when crisis hits.
Food Security for the Faint of Heart