# skinny Minnie

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/skinny-minnie
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A person having a thin physical build.

## Examples

- She is such a skinny Minnie.
- My sister has always been a skinny Minnie, no matter how much she eats.
- Despite her reputation as a skinny Minnie, the athlete possessed surprising strength and endurance during the long race.

## Origin

The term was chosen for the rhyme. Given the lack of surviving records regarding a specific namesake or historical event, the construction appears to be a matter of phonetic convenience rather than etymological depth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.