A string bean is a type of green bean that got its name from the tough, stringy fiber that used to run along its seam. Years ago, you had to pull off these strings before cooking the beans, like peeling a thin thread from each pod. Modern varieties have been bred without these strings, but the name stuck.

String beans are the long, slender green pods you might see at dinner, sometimes called green beans or snap beans. They grow on vines or bushes in gardens, and you pick them while they're still young and tender, eating the whole pod instead of shelling out seeds like you would with peas.

The term also describes a person who's extremely thin and lanky. If someone calls a tall, skinny kid a string bean, they're comparing that person's long, thin shape to the vegetable. It can be said in a friendly, teasing way, but it can also feel hurtful, so it's best used with care.