bare bones

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bare bones

pl.n. Informal

The basic elements or essentials: outlined the bare bones of the proposal.

bare′-bones′ adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bare′ bones′

n.pl.

the most essential facts or components: Reduce this report to its bare bones.

[1910–15]

bare′-bones`, adj.

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Noun

bare bones - (plural) the most basic facts or elements; "he told us only the bare bones of the story"

essence, heart and soul, inwardness, nitty-gritty, pith, substance, gist, kernel, nub, meat, core, sum, marrow, heart, center, centre - the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument"; "the heart and soul of the Republican Party"; "the nub of the story"

plural, plural form - the form of a word that is used to denote more than one

colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech

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References in classic literature ?

This doctor says of himself that he does not cure diseases when there are any, but prevents them coming, and the medicines he uses are diet and more diet until he brings one down to bare bones; as if leanness was not worse than fever.

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I say what other people only think, and when all the rest of the world is in a conspiracy to accept the mask for the true face, mine is the rash hand that tears off the plump pasteboard, and shows the bare bones beneath.

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Lastly, there they were, sitting on the desolate shore of this very island, hungry and downcast, and looking ruefully at the bare bones of the stag which they devoured yesterday.

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JIM GOODWIN admits St Mirren are "down to the bare bones" already - but isn't losing sleep over their Betfred Cup body blow.

Goodwin's running out of Buddies after Betfred hell

This years classes will feature Bare Bones and Modified Compacts and Bare Bones and semi-stock full size cars.

Demolition Derby set for Friday

And Bare Bones Border Morris from Loughborough were invited to dance and hold a workshop at the group's third annual conference and held at the British Library, London.

Bare Bones take part in London dance and workshop

The fact of the matter is Brentford have a midfielder Nico Yennaris at right back, centre back Yoann Barbet at left back and the inexperienced but talented Mepham in the middle which shows how the club are down to the bare bones.

Brentford boss explains Ollie Watkins and John Egan absences and hails squad strength; The lively forward missed the 2-1 win over Aston Villa with a foot injury sustained in the victory over Norwich on Friday night

GATEACRE School drama students were thrilled to take part in the Bare Bones Tour of Liverpool, as some of the "out of this world" visitors as part of this year's Hallowe'en Lantern Parade from the Lantern Company.

GATEACRE School drama students [...]

PRESTON boss Simon Grayson admits his defence is "down to the bare bones" after more setbacks.

NEW SETBACK FOR GRAYSON

Jags boss Alan Archibald insists prized asset Stephen O'Donnell is going nowhere this month as he surveys a side down to bare bones.

Archibald will block O'Donnell move bid

North east-based touring exhibition company Blue Tokay Ltd has loaned the museum two displays from their Bare Bones collection, which looks at the anatomy of animals in an unusual way.

Bare Bones exhibition visits Middlesbrough

Muskogee, OK, March 31, 2014 --(PR.com)-- The story of a unique reunion, long thought utterly impossible, is coming to Bare Bones Film and Music Festival in Oklahoma.