lean on or lean over

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 8:52 am

Could you please tell me which one is correct:
When we were young it was exciting to lean (on?/over?) a book and read the opening lines.

woodcutter · Post by **woodcutter** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 8:58 am

If you lean on a book, it would probably be shut. If you lean over it, it is probably a huge thing taking up half the table. Neither seems natural. Opening the book and reading the first lines (bad style to repeat yourself!) would be more normal.