breed in the bone
To establish or ingrain firmly within someone's nature.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“His love for music is bred in the bone.”
“She comes from a family of sailors, so a love for the ocean is bred in the bone.”
“The stubborn pride of his ancestors was bred in the bone, making it impossible for him to admit he was wrong.”
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bone hard
As hard as a bone, rock hard.
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bone in her teeth
(of a boat or ship) A prominent bow wave (as a result of high speed).
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bone in the throat
A source of continuing annoyance; a hindrance.
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bone of contention
Something that continues to be disputed; something on which no agreement can be reached.
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born and bred
Showing characteristics of birth and upbringing, especially in relation to a particular location.
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chill to the bone
To make someone extremely cold, or to be extremely cold.
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different breed of cat
Something entirely different; a whole other thing or matter.
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dying breed
A group of people or things that is becoming less numerous over time.
Last updated August 10, 2026