mean (redirected from meaning well)

by fair means or foul

if you try to achieve something by fair means or foul, you use any method you can to achieve it, even if it is not honest or fair. He was determined to become senator, by fair means or foul.

See also: fair, foul

The end justifies the means.

something that you say which means that in order to achieve an important aim, it is acceptable to do something bad. Unfortunately, we'll have to cut down the forest to make space for the golf course, but I feel the end justifies the means.

See also: end

he/she doesn't have a [jealous, mean, unkind etc.] bone in his/her body

something that you say in order to emphasize that someone is not jealous, mean, unkind etc.. He'd never deliberately hurt someone's feelings - he doesn't have a mean bone in his body.

See also: body, bone, doesn't, her, his, she, unkind

a man/woman of means

someone who has a lot of money. I could tell from her address that she was a woman of means.

See also: man, woman

mean business

to be serious about achieving something, even if other people disagree with you. The changes the new government has made show they mean business.

See also: business

a means to an end

something that you are not interested in but that you do because it will help you to achieve something else. Mike doesn't have any professional ambitions. For him, work is just a means to an end. (not used with the)

See also: end

there isn't a [mean, jealous, unkind etc.] bone in someone's body

he/she doesn't have a [jealous, mean, unkind etc.] bone in his/her body - something that you say in order to emphasize that someone is not jealous, mean, unkind etc.. She wasn't the possessive type, and there wasn't a jealous bone in her body.

See also: body, bone, isn't, there, unkind

ways and means

methods of achieving something. Surely there are ways and means of achieving our objectives which don't involve spending quite so much money. (often + of)

See also: ways

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beyond your means

too expensive for you. We bought a retirement home, but at first the repair work was beyond our means.

within your means

See also: beyond

by all means

certainly. If you can find a use for this old computer, by all means keep it.

See also: all

by no means

not in any way. This is by no means a terrible film. We are by no means finished yet.

Usage notes: usually used to disagree with someone who might have an opposite opinion

mean business

to be serious. After she scored that point, I realized that she meant business. We hope that the government means business and will really do something about the lack of affordable housing.

See also: business

mean well

to intend to be helpful. He's a good person, and I know he means well.

See also: well

a means to an end

something done to achieve something else. You may get tired of regular physical exercise, but it's simply a means to an end.

See also: end

no mean something

not something small or unimportant. Getting the job finished so quickly was no mean achievement.

ways and means

methods of achieving something. She spent years exploring ways and means of improving children's nutrition.

See also: ways

within your means

without spending more than the money you have. We need to reduce spending and live within our means.

beyond your means

See also: within