1
general::
Phrase(s): cut something to the bone
1. Lit. to slice deep to a bone. • The knife cut John to the bone. He had to be sewed up. • Cut each slice of ham to the bone. Then each slice will be as big as possible. 2. Fig. to cut down severely (on something). (To the bone emphasizes the severity of the cutting.) • We cut our expenses to the bone and are still losing money. • Congress had to cut expenditures to the bone in order to balance the budget., Phrase(s): cut someone to the bone
Go to cut someone to the quick and cut someone to the bone
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
Severely reduced, as in During the Depression Grandmother's housekeeping money was cut to the bone. The phrase to the bone, literally meaning "through the flesh to the inmost part or core," dates from about 1400. This expression in effect means that everything extraneous has been cut away so that only bone remains.
American Heritage Idioms