bean
A2Neutral (formal and informal). Predominantly everyday, with specific informal/slang extensions.
Definition
Meaning
The seed of certain plants, especially those of the legume family, used as food.
A small, often oval object; a unit of energy or worth in slang; one's head in informal use.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Core meaning refers to edible seeds (e.g., kidney bean, coffee bean). Extended meanings are metaphorical, often informal (e.g., 'not worth a bean', 'spill the beans', 'use your bean').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal for the core food meaning. British English more commonly uses 'full of beans' for energy. American English more commonly uses 'bean counter' for an accountant. The vegetable 'broad bean' (UK) is 'fava bean' (US).
Connotations
Similar informal connotations for 'head' (use your bean) and 'small value' (not worth a bean). 'Bean' as slang for 'head' may be slightly more dated in contemporary AmE.
Frequency
Both core and idioms are high-frequency. The food term is ubiquitous. Idioms are common but somewhat informal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
spill [the] beans (about something)not know beans about [something] (AmE)not have a beanfull of beansuse your beanVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “spill the beans (reveal a secret)”
- “full of beans (energetic)”
- “not have a bean (be penniless)”
- “use your bean (think carefully)”
- “not worth a bean (worthless)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'bean counter' for accountant/finance officer.
Academic
Rare, except in biology/agriculture contexts (e.g., 'leguminous bean crops').
Everyday
Primary context: food, cooking, gardening. Secondary: idioms for energy, secrets, thinking.
Technical
Botany/Agriculture: refers to seeds of plants in the Fabaceae family.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He beaned the batsman with a wild pitch. (informal: hit on the head)
American English
- The pitcher beaned him right in the helmet.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I ate beans on toast for lunch.
- Green beans are my favourite vegetable.
- She accidentally spilled the beans about the surprise party.
- The children were full of beans after playing outside.
- As a classic bean counter, he scrutinised every penny of the budget.
- He doesn't know beans about astrophysics, but he pretends he does.
- The government's new policy isn't worth a bean, according to leading economists.
- The comedian beaned his friend with a foam brick as part of the act.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a tin of BEANS. To BE-AN (be an) energetic person, you need to eat your beans!
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUE/ENERGY IS A BEAN (e.g., not worth a bean, full of beans). KNOWLEDGE/SECRETS ARE CONTAINED BEANS (e.g., spill the beans). THE HEAD IS A BEAN (e.g., use your bean).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'green bean' as 'зелёный боб' (unnatural). Use 'стручковая фасоль' or 'спаржевая фасоль'.
- 'Spill the beans' is not about food. It's 'выдать секрет' or 'расколоться'.
- 'Bean' as 'head' is informal/old-fashioned (e.g., 'use your bean' = 'шевелить мозгами').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'beans' as an uncountable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'I like bean' → 'I like beans' or 'I like this type of bean').
- Confusing 'spill the beans' with 'spill the tea' (the latter is more modern slang for gossip).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'spill the beans' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily countable (a bean, three beans). However, in food contexts like 'a tin of baked beans' or 'I'm eating beans', it's treated as a plural/mass noun.
Both are legumes, but beans are typically larger seeds from pods of the genus Phaseolus or Vicia, while peas are smaller, round seeds from the genus Pisum.
Yes, informally, especially in American English, meaning to hit someone on the head, often with a ball (e.g., in baseball).
The phrase likely originates from the idea that horses fed on beans (high-energy food) became lively and spirited.