Lean towards

Meaning

The idiom "lean towards" means to incline or tend towards something, person, or situation. It can also mean to favor or prefer one thing over another.

Usage

• I always lean towards vegetarian food when dining out.
• The company tends to lean towards cost-cutting measures in times of crisis.
• My mother leans towards natural remedies for health problems.
• He leans towards the right politically, but he's not extreme.
• When making decisions, I try to lean towards what's best for the team.

Roots and History

The idiom "lean towards" has been in use since the 14th century according to Oxford English Dictionary. The earliest known usage was "to incline or bend one's body," which gradually evolved over time to mean "to tend towards something." It's unclear where the idiom originated, but it's likely that the figurative meaning of "lean" has been used metaphorically in this context for centuries.

Synonyms in English

• Tend towards
• Favor
• Prefer
• Incline towards
• Lean towards

Synonyms in other languages

• En favoritiser dans le français (to favor)
• Vorzuge geben im deutsch (to prefer)
• 聞謝之 in the Japanese language (to express gratitude)
• אל המולתן עשות im Hebrew language (to fulfill a commandment)
• אותך בחוסודים רצעתים בנים כשרים im Hebrew language (to appreciate your sons being kosher)

Similar Idioms

• hang up

• liquor up

• figure out