skin and bones, (nothing but) 🍖
Definition:
Emaciated; painfully thin. This hyperbole has been with us since the days of togas and laurel wreaths; Theocritus, Plautus, and Virgil are some of the superstar scribes from antiquity who penned it in their works. An unknown fifteenth-century writer grumbled, “Now . . . Me is lefts But skyn and boon” (Hymns to the Virgin and Child, ca. 1430).
Similar Expressions:
- “Thin as a rake”
- “Skeleton in clothes”
- “Lean as a lizard”
Synonyms:
- Gaunt
- Scrawny
- Emaciated
Antonyms:
- Chubby
- Plump
- Well-rounded
Humor-filled Quotes:
🔸 “I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised.”
🔸 “I’d agree with you, but then we’d both be wrong.”
Proverbs and References:
🔹 “You can’t get blood out of a stone.” – This one carries the idea of trying to get something from someone who has nothing to give, akin to expecting meal from nothing but skin and bones.
Suggestions for Literature, Books, and Movies:
- Book: Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens – For a literary journey with some ‘skin and bones’ characters.
- Poem: The Lady of Shalott by Alfred Lord Tennyson – Explore themes of isolation and ethereal beauty.
- Movie: The Machinist (2004) – Watch Christian Bale become the waving definition of ‘skin and bones.’
Inspirational, Thought-provoking Farewell:
“May your spirit always be nourished, even if your appearance is ’nothing but skin and bones.’ Remember, it’s the weight of your dreams that truly defines your presence in this world.”
