lean on

British  

verb

1. Also: lean upon.  to depend on for advice, support, etc

2. informal  to exert pressure on (someone), as by threats or intimidation

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lean on Idioms  

1. Rely on, depend on, as in He's leaning on me for help . [Mid-1400s]

2. Exert pressure on one, especially to obtain something or make one do something against his or her will. For example, The gangsters were leaning on local storekeepers to pay them protection money . [ Colloquial ; mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

America has the dollar to lean on—but probably not forever.

From The Wall Street Journal

The show has long leaned on California’s reputation as a climate leader to launch the latest in electric technology.

From Los Angeles Times

That meant leaning on higher discounts on items that weren’t hit as hard by tariffs, like T-shirts, or items that were already in the U.S., she said.

From MarketWatch

But the settlement was also precedent-setting: DOJ paid up and is now required to train federal prosecutors to know it is an actionable offense to lean on investigators from other agencies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Near the end of life, Munger leaned on humor for strength.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• berate
• censure
• chastise
• criticize
• excoriate
• flog
• lambaste
• lash
• penalize
• pummel
• punish
• rebuke
• reprimand
• scold
• upbraid