the lean years
Meaning: A period of hardship and scarcity.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The family business survived the lean years by cutting everything but the essentials.”
Category: Animals
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
More idioms — Animals
- worship the golden calf — To value money and wealth above everything.
- ants in one's pants — Restless, unable to sit still.
- blistering barnacles — A comic exclamation of surprise or anger.
- a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush — It is better to keep what you have than risk it for something more uncertain.
- hightail it — To leave in a great hurry.
- you could have knocked me down with a feather — I was extremely surprised.
More English idioms
- a poisoned chalice — Something that seems attractive but brings trouble to whoever accepts it.
- at the top of one's lungs — As loudly as possible.
- Captain Obvious — A mocking name for someone who states the obvious.
- think the moon is made of green cheese — To be very gullible.
- let's hit the road — Let's leave; let's get going.
- gone with the wind — Gone forever, vanished without a trace.
From our compliments & insults
- 気が利く (ki ga kiku) — You're perceptive and considerately thoughtful — you notice what people need before they…
- できる人 (dekiru hito) — Said of someone highly capable and impressive — the kind of person who makes things happe…
- 懐が深い (futokoro ga fukai) — You're broad-minded, generous of spirit, and able to embrace the complexity of others wit…