lean and mean
Trim and aggressive
Lean and mean describes a state of being trim, efficient, and aggressively competitive.
The phrase originally characterized physical fitness—someone stripped of excess fat and ready for action—but now more commonly applies to organizations that have cut unnecessary expenses, staff, or operations to maximize effectiveness.
After the restructuring, the company emerged lean and mean.
The combination suggests that efficiency brings with it a certain ruthlessness or competitive edge.
- succinctExpressed with minimal words
- businesslikePractical and methodical
- efficientProductive without waste
- edgeBoundary or sharpness
- streamlinedMade smooth and efficient
productive · no fat · grit · trim · cut to the bone · economical · optimized · stripped-down · sleek · bare-bones · no-frills · agile · thin · cutthroat · war footing · hungry · fighting fit · parsimonious
- fitnessfitness, exercise, gym, workout, running
- appearance idiomsall dolled up, dolled up, done up, dressed to kill, dressed to the nines
lean and meanbloated
Swelled from excess
bureaucratic · top-heavy · overstaffed · fat and happy · inefficient
lean and meanout of shape
Lacking physical conditioning
overweight · pudgy · soft · doughy · unfit
lean and meanfat and happy
Satisfied to excess
complacent · self-satisfied · soft · satisfied · content
lean, mean, leans, leaned, leaning, leaner, leanest, leanness, means