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beans

n.
US //ˈbinz// UK //bˈiːnz// beans
  1. 1 food (n.)
    A1 Beginner Cooking

    the seeds of some plants that you can eat, like green beans or coffee beans.

    the edible seeds of various leguminous plants, or the plants themselves.

    Example

    We had baked beans on toast for a quick and easy dinner.

    Example

    The chef recommended soaking the dried beans overnight to ensure they cooked evenly in the traditional stew.
  2. 2 a small amount (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal American English

    a very small or worthless amount of something, usually used in negative sentences.

    a negligible or insignificant amount; almost exclusively used in negative constructions to emphasize lack of value.

    Example

    He worked all weekend but he didn't earn beans for his effort.

    Example

    Despite the aggressive marketing campaign, the new startup's actual profits didn't amount to beans by the end of the fiscal year.

    Usage

    Usually appears in the phrase 'not amount to beans' or 'not know beans about something.'
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  1. 3 pills (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    a slang word for drugs that come in the form of pills.

    a slang term for illicit drugs or medication in tablet or capsule form.

    Example

    The police found a small bag of beans in the suspect's pocket.

    Example

    The undercover operation targeted local distributors who were selling various types of beans at music festivals.
  2. 4 animal paw pads (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal Humorous

    the soft, pink or black pads on the bottom of a cat or dog's paw.

    the digital and metacarpal pads on the underside of an animal's paw, particularly a cat.

    Example

    The kitten stretched its legs, showing its tiny pink beans.

    Example

    Social media users often share close-up photographs of their pets' paws, affectionately referring to the pads as toe beans.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a very modern, internet-centric term often used by pet owners.
  3. 5 testicles (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang Vulgar

    a rude word for a man's testicles.

    a slang term for the testicles.

    Example

    The player was doubled over after the ball hit him right in the beans.

    Example

    The comedian made a crude joke about being kicked in the beans during a fight.
Idioms5 entries

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