American lean
Informal term for a perceived American posture stereotype
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American lean is an informal term for a perceived tendency of Americans to stand with their weight on one foot or to lean against nearby objects while waiting in public.[1][2][3] The expression is often in the context of cultural stereotypes about American tourists.[2] According to a former Central Intelligence Agency chief of disguise Jonna Mendez, field assets are trained not to stand in this manner.[3][4][5]
The American lean occurs on objects such as railings, walls, doorways, or benches.[6] Other cultures tend to stand more upright and centered, particularly in narrower public spaces.[6] It is speculated that this phenomenon is associated with relaxed American body language that has been shaped by wide sidewalks, open spaces, and informal public behavior.[6] It is more noticeable in groups, and along with other stereotypes (such as speaking loudly) can be a way to identify Americans.[6][7][8] Over time, the American posture standard has relaxed.[9]
In the mid 2020s, the phenomenon gained attention on social media.[10][11]