🍖 Make No Bones About It: No Hesitations, No Regrets 💎
To do or say something without hesitation, formality, or evasion.
This wonderfully old saying is so ancient that its original meaning has been lost in the fog of history. Let’s grab our linguistic picks and shovels and dig into the fascinating tale of “make no bones about it.”
Historical Roots: Nicholas Udall (likely a budding phrase historian) used it quite early in Apothegms from Erasmus (1548), with the line: “He made no manier bones ne stickyng, but went in hande to offer up his ownly son” (which terrifyingly translates to: he made no bones about sacrificing his only son).
Possible Origins:
- The Culinary Theory: Some linguistic chefs suggest it comes from a diner who makes no fuss if he encounters bones in his food. However, considering how feisty some people can get about bones ruining a perfect, bon(e)-appetit dining experience, this theory seems to have slipped through the (fish)pipes.
- The Dice Theory: Dice, originally made from bones, were a beloved pastime. Perhaps it meant simply throwing the dice without making any ado. This theory holds more bones (I mean, water) if you think of old-time gamblers as unfazed risk-takers.
Synonyms and Related Phrases:
- Get to the Point: Saving everyone the headache of beating around bushes or trees.
- Without Further Ado: Originating straight from Much Ado About Nothing.
- Straight from the Horse’s Mouth: When you’ve got the info hot off the press—or, directly from Mr. Ed.
Humorous Quotes:
- “I don’t make bones about ordering extra cheese on my pizza. Life’s too short for dietary decorum.” — F.L. Cheesy
Proverbs & Expressions:
- No Ifs, Ands, or Buts: End your excuses before they even start to creep in.
- No Holds Barred: Fight or talk with no hesitations or restrictions. Yay for unrestricted verbal tussles!
Literary and Cultural References: For more academically inclined minds:
- In Hamlet, Shakespeare might have as well said “Make no bones about it, Denmark’s rotten!”
- Book: “Say What You Mean” by June Price Tangney and Ronda L. Dearing - Sometimes, it’s all about clarity.
- Film: The Straight Story (1999) - When literal reflects figurative; the lead character deals with things plainly and directly.
Let’s conclude this on a spotless and cliché-auxiliary note. To make no bones about it is to act with the audacity and refusal typical of those adventurous past dice-rollers. Talk straight, be unembellished, and add a hint of verve to our usually convoluted human interactions.
Embark on this obliging, often chucklesome exploration of well-worn phrases. Remember how invigorating it can be to see our overused expressions wearing a top hat and monocle for a day.
Farewell from your glitch-free language genie! E.G. Verbosians
