lean on
Pressure or depend
To lean on something is to rest against it for support: He leaned on the railing.
Figuratively, to lean on someone is to depend on them emotionally or practically: She leaned on her friends during the divorce.
The phrase also means to pressure or coerce: The detective leaned on the witness until he talked.
Obtain by intimidation
- pressureForce upon contact
- intimidateInstill fear to control
- strong-armCoerce through intimidation
- pushForce something away
squeeze · bully · threaten · force · compel · constrain · demand · insist
Confidence in another
- turn toSeek assistance from
- look toSeek guidance from
- confide inShare secrets with
- anchorSecures ships to seabed
have faith in · mainstay · lifeline · backstop · safety net · go-to · standby · cornerstone
coerce
Obtain by intimidation
- pressureForce upon contact
- intimidateInstill fear to control
- strong-armCoerce through intimidation
push · squeeze · bully · threaten · force · compel · constrain · demand · insist · persuade
trust
Confidence in another
- turn toSeek assistance from
- look toSeek guidance from
- confide inShare secrets with
have faith in · anchor · mainstay · lifeline · backstop · safety net · go-to · standby · cornerstone · pillar
hold onto
Keep in one's grasp
- dependencedepend, dependency, rely, need, neediness
- everyday mistakesslip, typos, trip, spelling errors, fall
- confidingopen up, disclose, confess, come clean, heart-to-heart
- Friendshipbest friend, bestie, BFF, buddy, pal
- love expressionsI love you, my love, sweetheart, darling, dear
- persuasionpersuade, persuasion, persuasive, convince, convincing
lean onstand alone
Exist without dependency
stand on one's own two feet · go it alone · fend for oneself · support · carry one's own weight
lean onback off
Stop pressing someone
leave alone · let off the hook · lay off · release · let be
on, lean, leaning, leans, leaned, leant, leanness, leaner, leanest