In the listening lesson ‘The Licence Plate,’ I was angry that I had to pay for an emissions test for my car even though my car had passed the same test two years ago! I said …
A lean, mean ___________ machine is a popular expression in North America! If someone or something is a lean, mean _________ machine, it is exceptionally good at its purpose. It is impressive, efficient, and excellent at what it does. The noun used in the expression is usually a gerund, but it can be anything.
My car passed the emissions test 2 years ago. I keep my car in good condition, so I doubt that in two years, my car had suddenly turned into a car that was emitting gases and other substances at dangerously and harmfully high levels.
This phrase is believed to have originated in the US Army, where they trained soldiers to be lean, mean fighting machines.
It was later used in the American movie Stripes:
“You’re a lean, mean, fighting machine!”
(Bill Murray as John Winger – Stripes)
Champion boxer George Foreman later introduced an electric grill called the lean, mean fat-reducing grilling machine.
He went from being a lean, mean fighting machine to selling lean, mean grilling machines.
Other uses of the expression:
A lean, mean research machine.
McAfee AVERT Stinger: A Lean, Mean Virus-Killing Machine.
Lesson #3: Make Your Company a Lean, Mean, Operating Machine.
Let’s look at this expression in more detail!
The general definition of mean is, of course, ‘not nice or good.’ In informal American English, it has another meaning = very good, excellent, impressive.
She makes a mean chicken casserole!
(Her chicken casserole is excellent, delicious.)
He plays a mean guitar!
(He plays the guitar very well.)
The same goes for the word machine. If someone or an organization is a machine, it means they are very efficient, very good and very quick at what they do – just like a machine!
Roger Federer [a tennis player] is a machine!
Our company operates like a well-oiled machine.
Do you know anyone or anything thing that is a lean, mean ___________ machine?
Melanie is a TESL-certified English teacher. She lives near Toronto, Canada. Through her blog, videos, podcasts, and social media, she helps thousands of people around the world improve their English. She makes English a little less confusing and a little more fun! She also helps people understand Canadian and American culture. She believes that natural interaction with a native speaker helps people practice what they have learned and builds their confidence with English!
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