forward-leaning

English

Alternative forms

• forward leaning

Pronunciation

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Adjective

forward-leaning (comparative more forward-leaning, superlative most forward-leaning)

1. (chiefly US, idiomatic) Disposed to take action or to exercise initiative; aggressive; bold.
   • 1987 August 26, “Quotation of the Day”, in New York Times, retrieved 12 October 2018:

     "I got a little too rambunctious, like a colt that got out of the barn to play, and I pulled myself in. I didn't do it all myself. My task force lawyer was whispering like Jiminy Cricket in my ear. I probably got us a little too far forward leaning at one point in time and then pulled us back." - Alan Fiers, a C.I.A. official, on secretly aiding Nicaraguan rebels. (A2:2.)

   • 2005 January 7, Rupert Cornwell, “We do not torture, insists Bush's choice for attorney general”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 12 October 2018:

     He denied ever using the phrase "forward-leaning" (a euphemism at the Pentagon for the most coercive techniques) over torture policy.

   • 2016 February 26, Lolita C. Baldor, “U.S. military targets ISIS propaganda in aggressive cyberwar”, in The Star, Canada, retrieved 12 October 2018:

     “He was right to say they could be more forward leaning about what they could possibly do against ISIS,” said James Lewis, a cybersecurity expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

2. (idiomatic) Innovative, cutting-edge, progressive, visionary.
   • 2004 April 4, Daniel Ginsberg, “For Brahms Requiem, a Whole New 'Reading'”, in Washington Post, retrieved 12 October 2018:

     The 52-year-old Nagano has made a career on fiery yet polished accounts of edgy contemporary music. […] Nagano works frequently with forward-leaning composers like Rihm.

   • 2011 February 17, Helena Bachmann, “How a New Swiss Law Can Help Egypt Get Its Money Back”, in Time, retrieved 12 October 2018:

     Now Switzerland is a trailblazer in the quest to return stolen assets to developing nations. "Passing such a forward-leaning law is not easy," says Mark Vlasic, a professor at Georgetown University.

   • 2017 September 13, Hannah Boland, “Business: Hammond warns Brussels 'land grab' would mean 'poorer quality, higher priced' financial services across EU”, in Telegraph, UK, retrieved 12 October 2018:

     However, he said the UK would not pander to “protectionist agendas, disguised as arguments about financial stability” and would instead address concerns by “forward-leaning proposals for greater transparency, cooperation, and agreed standards based on international norms”.

Usage notes

• William Safire discusses the development and range of usages of this term, especially in U.S. government, in his New York Times column of August 5, 2001, "The Way We Live Now: 8-5-01: On Language; Forward, Lean!".