lean margins

USAGE SUMMARY

"lean margins" is correct and usable in written English.
It is most often used in a financial or business context, such as "The company has worked to increase profits by operating with lean margins."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Transport companies of all types are cutting what little fat remains in an industry that subsists on lean margins even when fuel is cheap.

The New York Times

"Most small businesses run on lean margins, operate in a price-sensitive environment and are unable to pass costs on to consumers.

The Guardian

He or she can choose a relatively high price in pioneering stages, together with extravagant advertising and dealer discounts, and plan to recover promotion costs early; or he or she can use low prices and lean margins from the very outset in order to discourage potential competition when the barriers of patents, distribution channels, or production techniques become inadequate.

Harvard Business Review

The challenges include lean margins, with little room for personalization on mass offerings.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Shares of the oil and gas services firm gained 6%. Elsewhere the news was less rosy though as Delta Air Lines dropped 2.9% due to a leaner margin forecast and Hasbro wavered after reporting a decline in revenue, falling 0.4%.

Forbes

Thin margins.

WikiHow

While Mr. Weitzman touts the drug card as a boon to county residents, pharmacists argue that the price breaks eat into already lean profit margins.

The New York Times

"The credit quality is much better today than in 2006 as companies have cut the fat [and] have leaner operating margins," he says.

Forbes

But a bank earning only lean and uncertain margins on garden-variety loans may have little to lose by gambling on riskier ventures.

The Economist

He's losing blue-collar white women, who often lean Republican, by wide margins in the swing states.

The New York Times

GKN is still mainly thought to be a car-parts outfit with hard-bargaining customers that keep its profit margins a lean 7% (though aerospace margins are more generous at 11%).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In business writing, pair "lean margins" with strategies used to maintain profitability, such as cost reduction or increased sales volume.

Common error

Avoid using "lean" excessively in descriptions of a company's operations. While "lean margins" is acceptable, ensure you're not redundantly using "lean" to describe every aspect of the business. Instead, vary your language to provide a more nuanced picture.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lean margins" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an object or complement within a sentence. It refers to a business situation characterized by minimal profit margins. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in the context of business or finance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lean margins" is a phrase used to describe a business situation where profits are minimal relative to costs. Ludwig AI confirms that is correct and usable in a business or financial context. It is used in news and formal business environments and implies that the company is operating efficiently, though potentially with little room for error. Alternative phrases like "thin margins" or "tight margins" can be used to convey similar meaning. When using the phrase, it is important to consider the specific context and avoid overuse of "lean" terminology, and is also important to specify the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thin margins

Emphasizes the smallness of the profit margin, similar to "lean margins".

narrow profit margins

Specifies that the 'lean' aspect relates to profit, making it more explicit.

tight margins

Implies a restricted or constrained profit margin.

reduced margins

Focuses on the decrease or reduction in profit margins.

slim margins

Similar to "thin margins", highlighting the smallness of the profit.

low profit margins

Directly states that the profit margins are low.

minimal profit margins

Emphasizes the minimal nature of the profit.

exiguous margins

A more formal and less common way to express very small margins.

marginal profitability

Shifts the focus to the profitability being at the margin or barely profitable.

razor-thin margins

Highlights an extremely small margin, using a vivid image.

FAQs

How can I describe a business operating with minimal profit?

You can say the business is operating with "lean margins", indicating efficiency and cost control.

What are some synonyms for "lean margins"?

Alternatives include "thin margins", "narrow profit margins", or "tight margins", each conveying a similar meaning of constrained profitability.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "lean margins"?

"Lean margins" is most appropriate in business, finance, and economic contexts when discussing profitability and cost management.

What's the difference between "lean margins" and "high profit margins"?

"Lean margins" indicate a company is operating with minimal profit, emphasizing efficiency, while "high profit margins" indicate a company is generating substantial profit relative to its costs.