mean streak
A defect in character characterized by persistent nastiness, viciousness, or malevolence.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He has a mean streak that makes people uncomfortable.”
“Even though he is usually polite, he has a mean streak that appears when he loses an argument.”
“Despite his polished public persona, those who worked closely with him eventually discovered a hidden mean streak that defined his management style.”
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and I don't mean maybe
Indicating that one is serious and not joking about a matter.
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golden mean
A position of balance between excess and deficiency.
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mean business
To be serious, especially where achieving a specific end against opposition is concerned.
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mean the world to
To be loved or cared about a great deal by.
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meant to
supposed to, obliged to, ought to
Last updated August 10, 2026