He has had a couple of lean years for him.

The team suffered through more lean years in the early 1980s.

The 1990s and early part of the 2000s were lean years for the county.

After lean years and lost customers, things were finally looking up.

But the lean years were thought to be almost over.

I had a couple of lean years in '07 and '08.

I needed a way to make some money, see Faith and me through the lean years.

Nothing came along immediately and ahead were a couple of lean years.

Fans left during the lean years, and it will take more than one good season to bring them back.

Now that the lean years are here, local governments must pay the price, he said.