make no bones about it
Meaning
To say something plainly and without hesitation, hiding nothing or showing no embarrassment.
Origin
From an older sense of “bones” meaning obstacles or points of contention (like bones in food). To “make bones about” something was to fuss or be overly cautious; “make no bones” means not to fuss—be direct.
Notes
Often used to introduce a blunt opinion or firm stance. Can sound forceful; in polite contexts, soften with tone or alternatives like “to be clear.”
Examples
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I’ll make no bones about it: your proposal isn’t ready to send to the client.
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She made no bones about her disappointment with the final results.
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The coach made no bones about it—if you skip practice, you won’t start.
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Let’s make no bones about it; this merger is going to mean layoffs.
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He made no bones about wanting to move abroad as soon as he could.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed pattern: “make no bones about + noun/gerund/clause.” Tenses can change (made/was making). Pronoun object possible: “make no bones about it/this/that.”
Synonyms
- not mince words
- be frank
- be blunt
- say it straight
- come right out and say
Antonyms
- beat around the bush
- mince words
- hem and haw