meat on the bones: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘meat on the bones’ mean?
Analyzing the idiom meat on the bones:
The phrase meat on the bones typically refers to something that is substantial or has value. It implies the presence of a satisfactory or sufficient amount of substance, quality, or content.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "to the bone" means to do something to an extreme or exhaustive degree.
"Rickle o' banes" is an idiom that means a collection of bones.
The idiom "red meat" refers to controversial or provocative topics that generate strong emotional reactions and often fuel arguments or debates.
The idiom "put food on the table" means to provide the necessary income or means to support oneself and one's family.
The idiom "put facts on the ground" means to establish or provide concrete evidence or proof to support one's statements or claims.
The idiom *pound of flesh* refers to an unreasonable or extreme demand for repayment, often resulting in great harm or sacrifice to the person being asked to provide it.
The idiom "pound of flesh" is derived from William Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice." In the play, a character named Shylock demands a pound of Antonio's flesh as payment for a loan.
The idiom "on the whole" means considering all aspects or generally speaking.
The idiom "on the money" means to be exactly correct or accurate.
The idiom "on the money" is a commonly used phrase in American English. It means that something is absolutely correct or accurate. This idiom is often used in various contexts, such as financial matters, sports, and general assessments of correctness.
The idiom "on the face of it" means that something appears to be true or valid based on initial evidence or appearance, but further examination may reveal a different reality or truth.
The idiom "on the face of" means something is apparent or evident based on initial appearances or superficial evidence. It implies that a conclusion can be reached without deeper investigation or analysis.
Uncovering Hidden Significance
The idiom meat on one's bones is a related phrase that is often used to describe a person's physical appearance. When someone says that a person has meat on their bones, they are referring to the fact that the person is not thin or underweight, but rather has a healthy and well-nourished body. It implies that the person has a substantial amount of flesh or muscle, which is seen as a positive attribute in many cultures.
When used in conjunction with the idiom meat on the bones, the phrase chew the meat and spit out the bones is another idiomatic expression that conveys a similar sentiment. It means to take what is valuable or useful from a situation or piece of information, while discarding or ignoring the less important or irrelevant parts. Just as one would chew the meat of a bone and then discard the bones, this idiom suggests selectively choosing the valuable aspects and disregarding the rest.
In a different context, the idiom in one's bones is used to describe a deep and intuitive understanding or knowledge of something. When a person says that they have something in their bones, they mean that they have a strong and instinctive feeling or understanding about a particular topic or issue. It implies a level of expertise or familiarity that goes beyond surface-level knowledge.
Lastly, the idiomatic phrase to the bone emphasizes the depth or extremity of a particular characteristic or action. When something is described as being to the bone, it means that it is thorough, complete, or intensive. For example, if someone says that they are exhausted to the bone, they are indicating that they are extremely tired and have reached a point of complete fatigue.
These related idioms provide additional layers of meaning and nuance to the idiom meat on the bones. They highlight different aspects of how the phrase can be used and understood in various contexts, whether it's describing physical appearance, selective evaluation, intuitive understanding, or emphasizing a depth of experience.
The idiom meat on the bones, along with its related phrases, has become ingrained in the English language to communicate these concepts effectively and concisely. It adds color and vibrancy to our conversations and allows us to express complex ideas in a succinct and accessible manner.
Next time you hear or use the phrase meat on the bones, take a moment to consider the rich tapestry of meaning it encompasses, and how it aligns with other related idioms that capture the beauty and complexity of language itself.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom *meat on the bones* can be used in a sentence include:
1. After reviewing the proposal, the manager felt that there was not enough meat on the bones and asked for more details and evidence to support the claims.
2. The book was interesting, but it lacked meat on the bones. The author could have delved deeper into the characters and their motivations.
3. The investor was intrigued by the startup pitch, but wanted to see more meat on the bones before committing any funds. They requested a thorough financial analysis and business plan.
More "Origin" idioms
