This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. English
  3. Poetry & Literature

the leaner

English translation: one who derives support from others, in this case financial support

12:54 Aug 28, 2012
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
English term or phrase: the leaner
Hello everyone,

When the social side of life is developed too exclusively, as it often is, and recreation or entertainment becomes the leading motive of a person's life, he acquires habits of extravagance instead of economy; habits of wasting his resources, physical, mental, moral and spiritual, instead of conserving them. He is, in consequence, lacking in proper motivation, his God-given powers and forces are undeveloped and he inevitably brings poor judgment to bear upon all the higher relationships of life, while, as to his financial fortunes, he is ever **the leaner**; often a parasite, and always, if opportunity affords, as heavy a consumer as he is a poor producer

Thank you.
Mikhail Korolev
Local time: 06:52
Selected answer:one who derives support from others, in this case financial support
Explanation:
He "leans" on other people financially, to fund his high spending habits, even though his income has dropped. "as opportunity affords" means, when he can arrange some money from others, he spends it.
Selected response from:

Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 00:52
Grading comment
Many thanks to everyone.
Thank you, Martin.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +4one who derives support from others, in this case financial support
Martin Riordan
5 +1has less and less money
Yvette Neisser Moreno
4 +1gradually and consistently drains his financial resources
David Hollywood
5one who "leans" on others (depends on others)
airmailrpl
4poorer and poorer so "leans" on friends
Yvonne Gallagher
3one he still needs to understand his/her responsibilties, also the financial ones
Thayenga


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
one who derives support from others, in this case financial support


Explanation:
He "leans" on other people financially, to fund his high spending habits, even though his income has dropped. "as opportunity affords" means, when he can arrange some money from others, he spends it.

Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 00:52
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 42
Grading comment
Many thanks to everyone.
Thank you, Martin.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Hollywood: this is definitely part of the story
34 mins
  -> Thanks, David! You're on the air early today!
agree  jccantrell: This is how I took the context, Bill Withers "Lean on me"
1 hr
  -> Thanks, jccantrell!
agree  Veronika McLaren: as airmailrpl puts it " a leaner" (probably less unpleasant than a parasite)
23 hrs
  -> Thanks, Veronika!
agree  amarpaul
1 day 17 hrs
  -> Thanks, amarpaul!
neutral  Bernhard Sulzer: I hate to barge in here against 4 agrees but this whole section is about getting wealthy or staying poor and I am sure it can be read as Yvette did. And he is clearly a parasite but that's a result of his financial misfortune. :)
2 days 54 mins
  -> Who knows, you (and Yvette) could be right!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
has less and less money


Explanation:
The word "lean" here means scant or minimal. That is, "his financial fortunes," i.e. his money/income, becomes less and less.

Hope this helps.

Yvette Neisser Moreno
United States
Local time: 23:52
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Bernhard Sulzer: ever the poorer; poorer and poorer (despite the fact that "lean(er)" often implies thrifty/thriftier and or leaning on someone) - here is the whole section: http://www.psycourse.com/psyconcentration/12.htm :)
29 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
one he still needs to understand his/her responsibilties, also the financial ones


Explanation:
Like a child, this person depends on the generosity and support of others, and even expects others to help.

Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 05:52
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 12
1 corroborated select project
in this pair and field What is ProZ.com Project History(SM)?
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
gradually and consistently drains his financial resources


Explanation:
that´s the meaning

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2012-08-28 13:09:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

and as a result this leads to parasitic behaviour (i.e. depending on others to provide him with the funds he needs to maintain his lifestyle/spending habits)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2012-08-28 13:14:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"leaner" works on two levels here: 1. The person "leans"on others to obtain the money he/she needs as Martin explains and
2. Consistently reduces his/her capital in order to satisfy his/her financial needs

David Hollywood
Local time: 00:52
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 118

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Stephanie Ezrol: both meanings of leaner would tend to be heard
27 mins
  -> thanks Stephanie
neutral  Bernhard Sulzer: on second thought, I don't understand your 2nd meaning - to reduce the capital to satisfy "financial" needs?
29 mins
  -> the overall context will be the clincher ... thanks Bernhard
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
one who "leans" on others (depends on others)


Explanation:

the leaner => one who "leans" on others (depends on others)


airmailrpl
Brazil
Local time: 00:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 64
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
poorer and poorer so "leans" on friends


Explanation:
I agree with both Yvette and Martin as they each have half the answer.

After reading the full context, I think this word has a double meaning here; as Yvette explains "leaner" means he has "less and less money" and, as Martin says, this does not stop his extravagance so he "leans" on people for financial support so he can keep his extravagant lifestyle going.

Thus, he is "often a parasite" and he consumes more than he produces

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 04:52
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 317
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search