lean to one side

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lean to one side" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an object that is not standing perfectly straight but is instead slightly tilted in one direction. For example: "The old fence was leaning to one side, and parts of it had begun to rot and break off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

Buses lean to one side with clusters of riders hang ing on in the doorways, unoccupied taxis become scarce, and by sunset un available.

The New York Times

You're going to get a hand behind you for support and lean to one side.

Cornell University

Often players in this class can lean to one side only.

The Guardian - Sport

"My political views don't lean to one side or another," he said.

The Washington Post

I suspect that, eventually, he will have to lean to one side or another.

The Guardian - Opinion

"My political views don't lean to one side or another," he says.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

At three months of age, Jaeden started to present with irritability, lack of eating and lack of weight gain, inability to hold his head up (his head would always lean to one side-what I thought was torticollis) and poor central tone-hypotonia.

University of Chicago

"He gave me a thing on the bottom" — she leaned to one side and gently tapped her backside with a kind of reverence — "and so I stopped everything and said, 'If you do that again, I think I'm going to leave the film.' " "Human Voice," set in 1950, is about a woman in her twilight years who is talking on the phone with her lover, desperately trying to win him back from another woman.

The New Yorker

It leans to one side.

The New York Times - Books

The animal leaned to one side in the chute, preventing him from getting his balance.

The New York Times

The floor leans to one side but you can still stand up straight – and if you hold a bag out it will sway in towards you.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical objects, ensure the context clarifies whether the "leaning" is intentional (e.g., for support) or unintentional (e.g., due to damage).

Common error

Avoid attributing "leaning to one side" to a characteristic when it's actually a temporary condition or due to an external force. For example, don't say "The building is naturally leaning" if it's due to a foundation problem.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lean to one side" primarily functions as a verb phrase describing a physical action or state of being where something is tilted or inclined in a particular direction. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lean to one side" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a physical tilt or inclination, and metaphorically, a bias or tendency. Ludwig AI confirms its broad applicability. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, but also finds use in academic, wiki, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear, specifying whether the "leaning" is intentional or unintentional. Remember that there are alternatives such as "tilt to one side" or "incline to one side" if a different nuance is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tilt to one side

Emphasizes the act of tipping or angling something towards one direction.

incline to one side

Implies a gradual tendency or slope in a specific direction.

slant to one side

Highlights the angled or oblique position towards one direction.

tip to one side

Suggests a quick or abrupt movement causing something to be off balance.

list to one side

Describes a situation where something is tilting due to damage, weight imbalance or any other causes.

favor one side

Indicates a preference or bias towards a particular side or option.

be biased toward one side

Highlights the subjective preference that is not neccesarily related to physics or movement.

show partiality to one side

Emphasizes unfairness implied by favoring one side.

gravitate toward one side

Indicates movement toward a certain position due to external causes.

tend toward one side

Emphasizes the long term attitude or status of something related to leaning.

FAQs

How can I use "lean to one side" in a sentence?

You can use "lean to one side" to describe something that is tilted or inclined in one direction. For example, "The old tree began to lean to one side after the storm."

What's a good alternative to "lean to one side" when describing physical objects?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "tilt to one side", "incline to one side", or "slant to one side" to convey a similar meaning.

Can "lean to one side" be used to describe political views?

While less common, "lean to one side" can metaphorically describe a tendency or bias towards a particular political stance. A more common phrasing would be "lean to one candidate" or "lean to one party".

Is it grammatically correct to say "leaned to one side" instead of "lean to one side"?

Yes, "leaned to one side" is the past tense form of the phrase and is grammatically correct when describing an action that occurred in the past. For example, "The tower leaned to one side after the earthquake."