cut to the bone

Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cut to the bone

"Their budget has been cut to the bone, and they are unable to perform many responsibilities that are vital to the national interest."

From Salon ● Dec. 26, 2022

Local staffs were cut to the bone and syndicated content and infomercials began to fill the broadcast day.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2022

That’s why substantial investigative teams are rare, especially as newspapers cut to the bone to survive.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 10, 2021

What you couldn’t eliminate, you attempted to cut to the bone.

From Slate ● Nov. 7, 2020

"Lies are as dangerous as a sword. They can cut to the bone."

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Related Words

• abbreviate
• compress
• curtail
• cut
• cut back
• cut down
• lessen
• minimize
• reduce
• shrink
• slash
• trim