Bare bones
Meaning
The most basic, essential, and fundamental parts of something, devoid of any embellishment or additional features.
Origin
The striking image of 'bare bones' comes straight from anatomy—a skeleton, stripped of all flesh and covering. It’s the ultimate reduction, the absolute core structure that remains. This stark visual naturally extended into language to describe anything reduced to its most fundamental, unembellished state. When we talk about the 'bare bones' of an idea or a plan, we're invoking that same powerful sense of stripping away everything superfluous, leaving only the essential, foundational elements, much like an archaeologist unearthing a perfectly preserved skeleton.
Examples
- The initial budget proposal for the project was just the bare bones, lacking detailed breakdowns for each department.
- After years of neglect, only the bare bones of the old mansion remained, a crumbling stone shell.