1bone 
/ˈboʊn/ noun
plural bones /ˈboʊn/ noun 1 [count] : any one of the hard pieces that form the frame (called a skeleton) inside a person's or animal's body
▪ He broke a bone in his left arm. ▪ The leg bone is connected to the knee bone. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ He doesn't have a selfish/jealous bone in his body. [=he is not selfish/jealous at all] ▪ My bones are aching from working in the garden. ▪ My aching bones! [=my body is tired and sore] ▪ I'll be glad to have a chance to rest my weary bones. ▪ He knew in his bones [=knew in his heart; had a strong feeling] that he was wrong. ▪ She felt in her bones [=she sensed very strongly] that nothing had changed. — see also bag of bones, bare bones, funny bone 2 [noncount] : the hard material that bones are made of
▪ a piece of bone ▪ We are all made of flesh and bone. ▪ The handle of the knife is made from bone.
▪ He broke a bone in his left arm. ▪ The leg bone is connected to the knee bone. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ He doesn't have a selfish/jealous bone in his body. [=he is not selfish/jealous at all] ▪ My bones are aching from working in the garden. ▪ My aching bones! [=my body is tired and sore] ▪ I'll be glad to have a chance to rest my weary bones. ▪ He knew in his bones [=knew in his heart; had a strong feeling] that he was wrong. ▪ She felt in her bones [=she sensed very strongly] that nothing had changed. — see also bag of bones, bare bones, funny bone
▪ a piece of bone ▪ We are all made of flesh and bone. ▪ The handle of the knife is made from bone.
bone of contention — see contention
bone to pick
informal : something to argue or complain about with someone — usually + with ▪ I have a bone to pick with you!
bred in the bone — see 1breed
close to the bone — see 2close
make no bones about
: to be very sure and definite about (something)
▪ Make no bones about the seriousness of the matter. ▪ He made no bones about his plans to cut expenses. ▪ Make no bones about it—we will win.
▪ Make no bones about the seriousness of the matter. ▪ He made no bones about his plans to cut expenses. ▪ Make no bones about it—we will win.
off the bone
: with the meat removed from the bone or bones
▪ The pork is served off the bone.
▪ The pork is served off the bone.
on the bone
: with the meat connected to the bone or bones
▪ The ham was on the bone.
▪ The ham was on the bone.
skin and bones — see 1skin
throw (someone) a bone
informal : to offer (someone) something that is not very important or valuable especially to stop complaints or protests
▪ The boss would not let his workers out early for the holiday but threw them a bone by buying lunch.
▪ The boss would not let his workers out early for the holiday but threw them a bone by buying lunch.
to the bone 1 : very much
▪ We were frozen to the bone. [=we were very cold] ▪ The threatening look in his eyes chilled me to the bone. [=made me feel very fearful] 2 : as much as possible
▪ The company has cut costs to the bone in an effort to save money.
▪ We were frozen to the bone. [=we were very cold] ▪ The threatening look in his eyes chilled me to the bone. [=made me feel very fearful]
▪ The company has cut costs to the bone in an effort to save money.
work your fingers to the bone — see 1finger
— bone·less /ˈboʊnləs/ adjective
▪ boneless ham [=ham from which the bone has been removed] ▪ The chicken breast is boneless.
/ˈboʊnləs/ adjective ▪ boneless ham [=ham from which the bone has been removed] ▪ The chicken breast is boneless.
