lean on somebody phrasal verb (see also lean)

1. to depend on someone for support and encouragement, especially at a difficult time:
The couple lean on each other for support.

2. informal to try to influence someone, especially by threatening them:
He won’t pay unless you lean on him.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

depend on something/somebody to need something or someone in order to exist, or be healthy, successful etc:
The island’s economy depends on tourism.
The two industries depend on each other.
Many people depend on the sport for their livelihood (=they need it in order to make money to live).
rely on something/somebody to depend on something or someone to do or provide what you need, especially because you have no choice:
In rural areas, many people rely on public transport.
She’d never wanted to rely on a man for money.
count on something to depend on something that you expect to happen:
Their government was counting on American support.
I’m counting on getting a pay rise next year.
lean on somebody to depend on someone for support and encouragement, especially at a difficult time:
We all need a good friend that we can lean on.
When her husband died, she leant on Mike for support.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

lean on
lean on (someone/something)
1.
to depend on someone or something.
The children leaned on each other for help and comfort.

Verplank leaned on his experience as a waiter to figure out how to behave when he met the prince.

2.
to put pressure on someone or something to get what you want.
The Spanish teacher had to lean on the school principal to get new textbooks for the class.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

lean on something
lean on (someone/something)
1.
to depend on someone or something.
The children leaned on each other for help and comfort.

Verplank leaned on his experience as a waiter to figure out how to behave when he met the prince.

2.
to put pressure on someone or something to get what you want.
The Spanish teacher had to lean on the school principal to get new textbooks for the class.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

lean on
pressure someone by blackmail or threats of physical violence to make him or her do something
The gang decided to lean on the small shop owner to get him to sell his property.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

lean on
v. phr., slang, informal To pressure (someone) by blackmailing, threats, physical violence, or the withholding of some favor in order to make the person comply with a wish or request.
I would gladly do what you ask if you only stopped leaning on me so hard!

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

lean on someone
lean on (someone/something)
1.
to depend on someone or something.
The children leaned on each other for help and comfort.

Verplank leaned on his experience as a waiter to figure out how to behave when he met the prince.

2.
to put pressure on someone or something to get what you want.
The Spanish teacher had to lean on the school principal to get new textbooks for the class.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

lean on someone
pressure someone by blackmail or threats of physical violence to make him or her do something
The gang decided to lean on the small shop owner to get him to sell his property.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲