English Reference
Idiom idiom

make bones about


To do, indicate, or say something vaguely and with hesitation.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He makes no bones about his dislike for spicy food.

CONTEXTUAL

She makes no bones about her ambition to become the manager, telling everyone her plans clearly.

COMPLEX

The author makes no bones about his political stance, using his latest novel to criticize the government with absolute directness.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    absence makes the heart grow fonder

    One feels more love or affection for those one loves when parted from them.

  2. 02

    bag of bones

    A skinny, malnourished person or animal.

  3. 03

    cannot make it

    Cannot reach satisfactory or expected standards or do something competently; describes someone in a hopeless situation.

  4. 04

    chew the meat and spit out the bones

    To take in a great deal of information and selectively disregard some of it as invalid or inapplicable.

  5. 05

    doctors make the worst patients

    It is difficult to advise people on subjects that they are experts on.

  6. 06

    enough to make a cat laugh

    Very outlandish or outrageous.

  7. 07

    enough to make the angels weep

    Something so distressing that it causes one to lose hope and faith.

  8. 08

    find no bones in

    To experience no hindrances or obstacles; to do something without hesitation.

Last updated August 10, 2026