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Continuing from my 5 English idioms related to blood column post, we’ll look at some idioms related to bones next in this Halloween-themed series.
to have a bone to pick (with someone)
Meaning: to want to talk to someone about something annoying they have done
Example: “Uh oh, the boss looks like she's got a bone to pick. I wonder who screwed up this time.”
Note: Both “have” and “have got” can be used in this idiom. When speaking, be sure to use the contraction (e.g. I’ve got…) rather than the full form (e.g. I have got…) to sound more natural.
to be chilled to the bone
Meaning: to be extremely cold
Example: “After shoveling snow for hours, I was positively chilled to the bone!”
to work one’s fingers to the bone
Meaning: to work extremely hard, especially for a long time
Example: “She worked her fingers to the bone to provide a home and food for seven children.”
to know/feel something in one’s bones / to have a feeling in one’s bones
Meaning: to believe something very strongly (although you may not be able to explain why)
Example: “I've got a feeling in my bones that things are not quite right.”
Example: “Something bad is going to happen tonight—I can feel it in my bones.”
to not have a ___ bone in one’s body (several words are commonly used in the blank space in this expression, including bad, mean, dishonest, good,etc.)
Meaning: To not have any amount of some characteristic or attribute
Example: “I don’t believe that Karl has a bad bone in his body.” (Karl has no bad attributes.)
Example: “There's no way he lied to you—he doesn't have a dishonest bone in his body.” (He is completely honest.)
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