Bare bones

Meaning

The idiom "bare bones" means to have no additional information, features, or details beyond what is absolutely necessary. It can also refer to something that is extremely basic or stripped down.

Usage

• The new smartphone doesn't have any extra features, it's just a bare bones model for people who don't need anything fancy.
• The teacher only gave us the bare bones of the history lesson, leaving out all the interesting details.
• We decided to take the bus instead of renting a car because it was just too expensive and we didn't need any frills.
• I asked my colleague if they could help me with this project, but they only gave me the bare bones instructions and refused to elaborate.
• The company's financial report shows that their profits have been declining steadily for the past year, but they haven't provided any specific details about what's causing it.

Roots and History

The idiom "bare bones" dates back to the Middle Ages when people would eat meat on the bone as a way of saving money. The phrase likely comes from the idea that you only get the basic essentials when you just eat the bone. Over time, the phrase has taken on a figurative meaning in modern language, and is used to describe something simple or stripped down.

Synonyms in English

• bare minimum
• essentials
• core elements
• base level
• fundamental

Synonyms in other languages

• français: "essentiels"
• italienisch: "essenziali"
• spanisch: "esenciales"
• português: "esenciais"
• russian: "основной элемент"

Similar Idioms

• kick the habit

• belly laugh

• breakout