Question

lean period/spell/times

Accepted Answer

[usually before noun] (of a period of time) difficult and not producing much money, food, etc
a lean period/spell

The company recovered well after going through several lean years.

This is the leanest time of the year for the tourist industry.

Front	lean period/spell/times
Back	[usually before noun] (of a period of time) difficult and not producing much money, food, etc a lean period/spell The company recovered well after going through several lean years. This is the leanest time of the year for the tourist industry.

Lean Period/Spell/Times Noun] (Of Period Time) Difficult Producing Money Food