Meaning
Very stingy and tight-fisted — the reduplication of 'mean' (miserly) intensifying it. A 'mean-mean' person won't share, won't spend, and grudges every penny and every mouthful. In Jamaican use 'mean' is primarily about stinginess with money and things, more than unkindness; 'mean-mean' is stinginess to the extreme.
Examples
-
Him mean-mean, him nah share nuttn.
He's very stingy; he won't share anything.
-
She too mean-mean fi buy a round.
She's too tight-fisted to buy a round.
-
Nuh be mean-mean wid di food.
Don't be so stingy with the food.
Origin
Reduplication of 'mean' (stingy/miserly) intensifying it. See [[craven]], [[wanga-gut]].
How it’s used
Very stingy/tight-fisted; 'mean' in JA = stingy (with money/things). See [[craven]], [[wanga-gut]].