IdiomAnimals
English
Englishthe lean years
Meaning: A period of hardship and scarcity.
Example: “The family business survived the lean years by cutting everything but the essentials.”
Origin: From Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream in Genesis 41: seven fat cows and seven lean cows foretell seven years of plenty and seven of famine.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Les vaches maigres Literally: The lean cows
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