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Bean counter

Bean counter

Meaning

A disparaging term for an accountant or anyone who compiles statistics.

Examples

It’s a shame. Jim was a first rate pure mathematician but the bank offered him so much money to be their bean counter he decided to take it.

Where did it originate?

New Zealand.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Bean counter

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