diff --git a/src/frontends/lean/builtin_exprs.cpp b/src/frontends/lean/builtin_exprs.cpp
index a18521af20..b9210a540c 100644
--- a/src/frontends/lean/builtin_exprs.cpp
+++ b/src/frontends/lean/builtin_exprs.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ bool get_parser_checkpoint_have(options const & opts) {
     return opts.get_bool(*g_parser_checkpoint_have, LEAN_DEFAULT_PARSER_CHECKPOINT_HAVE);
 }
 
-namespace notation {
+using namespace notation;
+
 static expr parse_Type(parser & p, unsigned, expr const *, pos_info const & pos) {
     if (p.curr_is_token(get_llevel_curly_tk())) {
         p.next();
@@ -621,6 +622,32 @@ static expr parse_quoted_name(parser & p, unsigned, expr const *, pos_info const
     return p.rec_save_pos(e, pos);
 }
 
+static name * g_anonymous_constructor = nullptr;
+
+expr mk_anonymous_constructor(expr const & e) { return mk_annotation(*g_anonymous_constructor, e); }
+
+bool is_anonymous_constructor(expr const & e) { return is_annotation(e, *g_anonymous_constructor); }
+
+expr const & get_anonymous_constructor_arg(expr const & e) {
+    lean_assert(is_anonymous_constructor(e));
+    return get_annotation_arg(e);
+}
+
+static expr parse_constructor(parser & p, unsigned, expr const *, pos_info const & pos) {
+    buffer<expr> args;
+    while (!p.curr_is_token(get_rangle_tk())) {
+        args.push_back(p.parse_expr());
+        if (p.curr_is_token(get_comma_tk())) {
+            p.next();
+        } else {
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    p.check_token_next(get_rangle_tk(), "invalid constructor, `⟩` expected");
+    expr fn = p.save_pos(mk_expr_placeholder(), pos);
+    return p.save_pos(mk_anonymous_constructor(p.save_pos(mk_app(fn, args), pos)), pos);
+}
+
 parse_table init_nud_table() {
     action Expr(mk_expr_action());
     action Skip(mk_skip_action());
@@ -637,6 +664,7 @@ parse_table init_nud_table() {
     r = r.add({transition("if", mk_ext_action(parse_if_then_else))}, x0);
     r = r.add({transition("(", Expr), transition(")", mk_ext_action(parse_rparen))}, x0);
     r = r.add({transition("(", Expr), transition(":", Expr), transition(")", mk_ext_action(parse_typed_expr))}, x0);
+    r = r.add({transition("⟨", mk_ext_action(parse_constructor))}, x0);
     r = r.add({transition("?(", Expr), transition(")", mk_ext_action(parse_inaccessible))}, x0);
     r = r.add({transition("`(", mk_ext_action(parse_quoted_expr))}, x0);
     r = r.add({transition("`", mk_ext_action(parse_quoted_name))}, x0);
@@ -665,7 +693,6 @@ parse_table init_led_table() {
     r = r.add({transition("<d", mk_expr_action(get_decreasing_prec()))}, mk_decreasing(Var(1), Var(0)));
     return r;
 }
-}
 
 static parse_table * g_nud_table = nullptr;
 static parse_table * g_led_table = nullptr;
@@ -679,23 +706,27 @@ parse_table get_builtin_led_table() {
 }
 
 void initialize_builtin_exprs() {
-    notation::g_not            = new expr(mk_constant(get_not_name()));
-    g_nud_table                = new parse_table();
-    *g_nud_table               = notation::init_nud_table();
-    g_led_table                = new parse_table();
-    *g_led_table               = notation::init_led_table();
-    notation::g_do_match_name  = new name("_do_match");
+    g_not            = new expr(mk_constant(get_not_name()));
+    g_nud_table      = new parse_table();
+    *g_nud_table     = init_nud_table();
+    g_led_table      = new parse_table();
+    *g_led_table     = init_led_table();
+    g_do_match_name  = new name("_do_match");
 
     g_parser_checkpoint_have = new name{"parser", "checkpoint_have"};
     register_bool_option(*g_parser_checkpoint_have, LEAN_DEFAULT_PARSER_CHECKPOINT_HAVE,
                          "(parser) introduces a checkpoint on have-expressions, checkpoints are like Prolog-cuts");
+
+    g_anonymous_constructor = new name("anonymous_constructor");
+    register_annotation(*g_anonymous_constructor);
 }
 
 void finalize_builtin_exprs() {
     delete g_led_table;
     delete g_nud_table;
-    delete notation::g_not;
-    delete notation::g_do_match_name;
+    delete g_not;
+    delete g_do_match_name;
     delete g_parser_checkpoint_have;
+    delete g_anonymous_constructor;
 }
 }
diff --git a/src/frontends/lean/builtin_exprs.h b/src/frontends/lean/builtin_exprs.h
index 2e8e846ac9..edde41be5e 100644
--- a/src/frontends/lean/builtin_exprs.h
+++ b/src/frontends/lean/builtin_exprs.h
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ Author: Leonardo de Moura
 #pragma once
 #include "frontends/lean/parse_table.h"
 namespace lean {
+bool is_anonymous_constructor(expr const & e);
+expr const & get_anonymous_constructor_arg(expr const & e);
 parse_table get_builtin_nud_table();
 parse_table get_builtin_led_table();
 void initialize_builtin_exprs();
diff --git a/src/frontends/lean/elaborator.cpp b/src/frontends/lean/elaborator.cpp
index 6c43faca14..60ad408c51 100644
--- a/src/frontends/lean/elaborator.cpp
+++ b/src/frontends/lean/elaborator.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Author: Leonardo de Moura
 #include "library/explicit.h"
 #include "library/scope_pos_info_provider.h"
 #include "library/choice.h"
+#include "library/util.h"
 #include "library/typed_expr.h"
 #include "library/annotation.h"
 #include "library/pp_options.h"
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ Author: Leonardo de Moura
 #include "library/tactic/kabstract.h"
 #include "library/tactic/tactic_state.h"
 #include "library/tactic/elaborate.h"
+#include "frontends/lean/builtin_exprs.h"
 #include "frontends/lean/prenum.h"
 #include "frontends/lean/elaborator.h"
 #include "frontends/lean/info_annotation.h"
@@ -69,6 +71,10 @@ format elaborator::pp_indent(pp_fn const & pp_fn, expr const & e) {
     return nest(i, line() + pp_fn(e));
 }
 
+format elaborator::pp_indent(expr const & e) {
+    return pp_indent(mk_pp_fn(m_ctx), e);
+}
+
 format elaborator::pp_overloads(pp_fn const & pp_fn, buffer<expr> const & fns) {
     format r("overloads:");
     r += space();
@@ -500,7 +506,7 @@ expr elaborator::visit_prenum(expr const & e, optional<expr> const & expected_ty
     level A_lvl = get_level(A, ref);
     levels ls(A_lvl);
     if (v.is_neg())
-        throw elaborator_exception(ref, format("invalid pre-numeral, it must be a non-negative value"));
+        throw elaborator_exception(ref, "invalid pre-numeral, it must be a non-negative value");
     if (v.is_zero()) {
         expr has_zero_A = mk_app(mk_constant(get_has_zero_name(), ls), A, e_tag);
         expr S          = mk_instance(has_zero_A, ref);
@@ -562,13 +568,16 @@ expr elaborator::visit_const_core(expr const & e) {
 }
 
 expr elaborator::visit_function(expr const & fn, bool has_args, expr const & ref) {
+    if (is_placeholder(fn)) {
+        throw elaborator_exception(ref, "placeholders '_' cannot be used where a function is expected");
+    }
     expr r;
     switch (fn.kind()) {
     case expr_kind::Var:
     case expr_kind::Pi:
     case expr_kind::Meta:
     case expr_kind::Sort:
-        throw elaborator_exception(ref, format("invalid application, function expected"));
+        throw elaborator_exception(ref, "invalid application, function expected");
     // The expr_kind::App case can only happen when nary notation is used
     case expr_kind::App:       r = visit(fn, none_expr()); break;
     case expr_kind::Local:     r = fn; break;
@@ -749,7 +758,7 @@ expr elaborator::visit_elim_app(expr const & fn, elim_info const & info, buffer<
 
     expr motive_arg = new_args[info.m_motive_idx];
     if (!is_def_eq(motive_arg, motive)) {
-        throw elaborator_exception(ref, format("\"eliminator\" elaborator failed to compute the motive"));
+        throw elaborator_exception(ref, "\"eliminator\" elaborator failed to compute the motive");
     }
 
     /* Elaborate postponed arguments */
@@ -759,7 +768,7 @@ expr elaborator::visit_elim_app(expr const & fn, elim_info const & info, buffer<
             expr new_arg_type = instantiate_mvars(infer_type(new_args[i]));
             expr new_arg      = visit(*arg, some_expr(new_arg_type));
             if (!is_def_eq(new_args[i], new_arg)) {
-                throw elaborator_exception(ref, format("\"eliminator\" elaborator failed to assign explicit argument"));
+                throw elaborator_exception(ref, "\"eliminator\" elaborator failed to assign explicit argument");
             }
         }
     }
@@ -960,8 +969,8 @@ expr elaborator::visit_app_core(expr fn, buffer<expr> const & args, optional<exp
     if (is_choice(fn)) {
         buffer<expr> fns;
         if (amask != arg_mask::Default)
-            throw elaborator_exception(ref, format("invalid explicit annotation, symbol is overloaded "
-                                                   "(solution: use fully qualified names)"));
+            throw elaborator_exception(ref, "invalid explicit annotation, symbol is overloaded "
+                                       "(solution: use fully qualified names)");
         for (unsigned i = 0; i < get_num_choices(fn); i++) {
             expr const & fn_i = get_choice(fn, i);
             fns.push_back(fn_i);
@@ -1023,9 +1032,34 @@ expr elaborator::visit_by(expr const & e, optional<expr> const & expected_type)
     return mvar;
 }
 
+expr elaborator::visit_anonymous_constructor(expr const & e, optional<expr> const & expected_type) {
+    lean_assert(is_anonymous_constructor(e));
+    buffer<expr> args;
+    get_app_args(get_anonymous_constructor_arg(e), args);
+    if (!expected_type)
+        throw elaborator_exception(e, "invalid constructor ⟨...⟩, expected type must be known");
+    expr I = get_app_fn(m_ctx.relaxed_whnf(instantiate_mvars(*expected_type)));
+    if (!is_constant(I))
+        throw elaborator_exception(e, format("invalid constructor ⟨...⟩, expected type is not an inductive type") +
+                                   pp_indent(*expected_type));
+    name I_name = const_name(I);
+    if (!inductive::is_inductive_decl(m_env, I_name))
+        throw elaborator_exception(e, sstream() << "invalid constructor ⟨...⟩, '" << I_name << "' is not an inductive type");
+    buffer<name> c_names;
+    get_intro_rule_names(m_env, I_name, c_names);
+    if (c_names.size() != 1)
+        throw elaborator_exception(e, sstream() << "invalid constructor ⟨...⟩, '" << I_name << "' must have only one constructor");
+    expr new_e = copy_tag(e, mk_app(mk_constant(c_names[0]), args));
+    return visit(new_e, expected_type);
+}
+
 expr elaborator::visit_macro(expr const & e, optional<expr> const & expected_type, bool is_app_fn) {
     if (is_as_is(e)) {
         return get_as_is_arg(e);
+    } else if (is_anonymous_constructor(e)) {
+        if (is_app_fn)
+            throw elaborator_exception(e, "invalid constructor ⟨...⟩, function expected");
+        return visit_anonymous_constructor(e, expected_type);
     } else if (is_prenum(e)) {
         return visit_prenum(e, expected_type);
     } else if (is_typed_expr(e)) {
@@ -1207,7 +1241,7 @@ void elaborator::ensure_numeral_types_assigned(checkpoint const & C) {
         expr A = instantiate_mvars(head(m_numeral_type_stack));
         if (is_metavar(A)) {
             if (!assign_mvar(A, get_default_numeral_type()))
-                throw elaborator_exception(A, format("invalid numeral, failed to force numeral to be a nat"));
+                throw elaborator_exception(A, "invalid numeral, failed to force numeral to be a nat");
         }
         m_numeral_type_stack = tail(m_numeral_type_stack);
     }
@@ -1238,8 +1272,7 @@ void elaborator::synthesize_type_class_instances_core(list<expr> const & old_sta
         if (!has_expr_metavar(inst_type)) {
             // We must try to synthesize instance using the local context where it was declared
             if (!is_def_eq(inst, mk_instance_core(mdecl.get_context(), inst_type, ref)))
-                throw elaborator_exception(mvar,
-                                           format("failed to assign type class instance to placeholder"));
+                throw elaborator_exception(mvar, "failed to assign type class instance to placeholder");
         } else {
             if (force) {
                 auto pp_fn = mk_pp_fn(m_ctx);
diff --git a/src/frontends/lean/elaborator.h b/src/frontends/lean/elaborator.h
index 4dc4afa5fb..899fcb2e51 100644
--- a/src/frontends/lean/elaborator.h
+++ b/src/frontends/lean/elaborator.h
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ class elaborator {
 
     pp_fn mk_pp_fn(type_context & ctx);
     format pp_indent(pp_fn const & pp_fn, expr const & e);
+    format pp_indent(expr const & e);
     format pp_overloads(pp_fn const & pp_fn, buffer<expr> const & fns);
 
     expr infer_type(expr const & e) { return m_ctx.infer(e); }
@@ -148,6 +149,7 @@ class elaborator {
     expr visit_placeholder(expr const & e, optional<expr> const & expected_type);
     expr visit_have_expr(expr const & e, optional<expr> const & expected_type);
     expr visit_by(expr const & e, optional<expr> const & expected_type);
+    expr visit_anonymous_constructor(expr const & e, optional<expr> const & expected_type);
 
     expr visit_sort(expr const & e);
     expr visit_const_core(expr const & e);
diff --git a/src/frontends/lean/elaborator_exception.h b/src/frontends/lean/elaborator_exception.h
index e74c19af91..230f03ad79 100644
--- a/src/frontends/lean/elaborator_exception.h
+++ b/src/frontends/lean/elaborator_exception.h
@@ -12,5 +12,6 @@ class elaborator_exception : public formatted_exception {
 public:
     elaborator_exception(expr const & e, format const & fmt):formatted_exception(e, fmt) {}
     elaborator_exception(expr const & e, sstream const & strm):formatted_exception(e, format(strm.str())) {}
+    elaborator_exception(expr const & e, char const * msg):formatted_exception(e, format(msg)) {}
 };
 }
diff --git a/tests/lean/anc1.lean b/tests/lean/anc1.lean
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..064624f3f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/lean/anc1.lean
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+check (⟨1, 2⟩ : nat × nat)
+
+check (⟨trivial, trivial⟩ : true ∧ true)
+
+example : true := sorry
+
+check (⟨1, sorry⟩ : Σ x : nat, x > 0)
+
+open tactic
+
+check show true, from ⟨⟩
+
+check (⟨1, by intro1 >> contradiction⟩ : ∃ x : nat, 1 ≠ 0)
+
+check λ (A B C : Prop),
+  assume (Ha : A) (Hb : B) (Hc : C),
+  show B ∧ A, from
+  ⟨Hb, Ha⟩
diff --git a/tests/lean/anc1.lean.expected.out b/tests/lean/anc1.lean.expected.out
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b47c4a5a7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/lean/anc1.lean.expected.out
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+(1, 2) : ℕ × ℕ
+and.intro trivial trivial : true ∧ true
+sigma.mk 1 sorry : Σ x, x > 0
+show true, from true.intro : true
+Exists.intro 1 (λ a, nat.no_confusion a) : ∃ x, 1 ≠ 0
+λ A B C Ha Hb Hc, show B ∧ A, from and.intro Hb Ha : ∀ A B C, A → B → C → B ∧ A