bone-dry: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘bone-dry’ mean?
The idiom "bone-dry" means completely devoid of moisture or liquid, often used to describe something that is extremely dry or parched.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "in the buff" means being completely naked, without any clothing on.
"High and dry" is an idiom that means to be left in a difficult or helpless situation, especially without any assistance or support.
The idiom "heart of stone" refers to someone who is emotionally cold and unfeeling, lacking compassion or empathy.
The idiom "hard as nails" means to be strong, tough, or unbreakable in character, attitude, or physical strength.
The idiom "hang out to dry" means to leave someone in a difficult or vulnerable situation without support or assistance.
The idiom "dry up and blow away" means to disappear or become forgotten, often due to lack of attention or relevance. It conveys the idea of something becoming insignificant or irrelevant over time.
The idiom "dry out" means to stop drinking alcohol or to recover from alcoholism or drug addiction. It can also refer to the process of removing moisture from something or to take a break from a situation or activity.
The idiom "dry one's eyes" means to stop crying or to cease being emotional about a situation.
Thirsting for Knowledge
The idiom "bone-dry" is a well-known phrase in the English language, with a distinct meaning and usage. Here are the facts about this idiom:
"Bone-dry" describes something that is completely devoid of moisture or liquid. It suggests a state of extreme dryness.
The exact origins and usage in different contexts might not be fully documented, but it can be traced back to the mid-19th century.
The word "bone" in the idiom refers to the skeletal structure of animals, known for its dryness and lack of moisture.
For example, bone-dry soil or bone-dry paper are completely dry and lacking any moisture.
The idiom is also used metaphorically to describe situations or objects that lack any trace of moisture, dampness, or liquidity.
When used in the context of weather, bone-dry denotes exceptionally dry or arid conditions, emphasizing the absence of precipitation.
In a figurative sense, the term can convey a sense of emptiness or lack of emotion. For instance, a speech could be described as bone-dry if it lacks passion or excitement.
Another idiom related to bone-dry is "bone hard", which describes something as extremely hard or rigid, lacking any flexibility or give.
Similarly, "bone-idle" is an idiom used to describe someone as extremely lazy or idle, lacking any motivation or willingness to do work.
"high and dry" is yet another related idiom, used to convey a sense of being abandoned or left in a difficult situation without any help or support. It emphasizes a feeling of being stranded or isolated.
The idiom "bone-dry" refers to something completely devoid of moisture or liquid, both literally and metaphorically. It can describe weather conditions, objects, and even emotions. Other related idioms include "bone hard", "bone-idle", and "high and dry", each conveying a different sense of dryness, rigidity, laziness, or abandonment. Overall, these idioms paint a vivid picture of aridity, dryness, and a lack of moisture or support in various contexts.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "bone-dry" can be used in a sentence:
- The desert was bone-dry, with no signs of water anywhere.
- After being left out in the sun, the clothes were bone-dry and ready to be put away.
- We had been hiking for hours and our water bottles were bone-dry, so we desperately needed to find a water source.
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