Dictionary

make no bones about en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˌmeɪk noʊ ˈboʊnz əˌbaʊt/ (General-American)
• /ˌmeɪk nəʊ ˈbəʊnz əˌbaʊt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

A reference to complaining about finding animal bones in food; compare find no bones in (“(obsolete) to experience no hindrances or obstacles; to do something without hesitation”) and have a bone to pick.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant.
   • Never ſpoke to him but once, in all my born life, upon electioneering matter—that's a time vvhen moſt of your proud folks make no bones of tippling vvith a tallovv-chandler, in his back room, on a melting day: […] 1797 July 15 (first performance), George Colman [the Younger], The Heir at Law: A Comedy, […], Dublin: […] T. Burnside, […], and George Folingsby, […], published 1798, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 7:
   • What's to prevent him from putting you or anybody else into his place if he likes? Do you think that the Government or the Opposition would make any bones about accepting the seat if he offered it to them? [1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, “Temptation”, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume II, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 263:
   • [B]earyng hymſelfe [Abraham] bolde vpon goddes promyſſe, he made no manner bones ne ſtickyng, but wente in hande to offer vp his onely ſonne Iſaac in ſacrifyce, […] [1549 February 10 (Gregorian calendar; indicated as 1548), Erasmus, “The Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Ghospell of S. Luke. The fyrst Chapter.”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], transl., The First Tome or Volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Newe Testamente, London: […] Edwarde Whitchurche, →OCLC, folio xxviii, recto:
   • Tom Faggus was a jovial soul, if ever there has been one, not making bones of little things, nor caring to seek evil. There was about him such a love of genuine human nature, that if a traveller said a good thing, he would give him back his purse again. 1869, R[ichard] D[oddridge] Blackmore, chapter XI, in Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Sampson Low, Son, & Marston, […], →OCLC:
   • I was prepared to be persuasive, touching, and hortatory, admonitory and expostulating, if need be vituperative even, indignant and sarcastic; but what the devil does a mentor do when the sinner makes no bones about confessing his sin? 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter XII, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC:
   • Therefore if any man alledge Gods power ageinſt thẽ [them], they bruſt through it boldly, & asfor mans hand, they make no bones at it, & ſo their great talking tung ſtinteth for no ſtoppes, but walketh ouer all the whole earth. 1571, John Calvin, “[Commentary on Psalm 73:8–9]”, in Arthur Golding, transl., The Psalmes of Dauid and Others. With M. Iohn Caluin’s Commentaries, London: […] Thomas East and Henry Middelton; for Lucas Harison, and G[e]orge Byshop, →OCLC, 1st part, folio 275, verso, column 2:
   • Vince, a natty 23-year-old financial analyst from Hoboken, made no bones about his agenda. "I love it here, it's so whorish," he said. […] "If you want to find sex, this is the place." 2005 March 13, Denny Lee, “Neighborhood report: East Village—The chase: Looking for Mr. Right Now”, in The New York Times (section 14), New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 12 Jan 2024, page 10:
   • He (to beguile the ſimple) makes no bone / To ſvvear by God (for he beleeues ther's none); / His Svvord's his Title; and vvho ſcapes the ſame, / Shall haue a Piſtol, or a Poyſonie dram: […] 1608, [Guillaume de Salluste] Du Bartas, translated by Iosuah Syluester, “[Du Bartas His Second Weeke, […]. David. […].] The Decay. The IIII. Book of the IIII. Day of the II. Week.”, in W. Salustius, Lord of Bartas, translated by Josuah Sylvester, Du Bartas His Deuine Weekes and Workes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Humfrey Lownes [and are to be sold by Arthur Iohnson […]], published 1611, →OCLC, page 619:
   • The squire made no bones about the matter; he despised the captain. 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “The Voyage”, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part II (The Sea Cook), page 82:
   • When his master saw the lad returning in such a sorry plight, he understood at once what had happened to him, and making no bones about the matter, he told Antonio what a fool he had been to allow himself to be so imposed upon by the landlord, and to let a worthless animal be palmed off on him instead of his magic donkey. 1900, Mrs. Lang [i.e., Leonora Blanche Alleyne, et al.], “The Ogre”, in Andrew Lang, editor, The Grey Fairy Book, London; New York, N.Y.: Longmans, Green, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 348:
   • One of the Berlin Philharmonic's musicians, horn player Fergus McWilliam from Scotland, said: 'He [Simon Rattle]'s clearly seeing it as his life's work, he's made no bones about that. There is a heightened sense of anticipation among the musicians.' 2002 August 25, Kate Connolly, Amelia Hill, “Rattles^([sic – meaning Rattle]) fires parting shot at Brit Art bratpack”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 15 Aug 2024:
   • Those other «pure» women had nearly taken all the balls out of me, but she was all right that way. She wanted me, and made no bones about it. And I was as pleased as punch. That was what I wanted: a woman who wanted me to fuck her. So I fucked her like a good un. 1928, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter XIV, in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, [Germany?]: Privately printed, →OCLC:
   • "I guess you don't think much of a woman on a ship do you?" / "Not to make any bones about it, she’s usually a cock-eyed pest." 1932, Edgar Wallace, Merian C[aldwell] Cooper, novelization by Delos W[heeler] Lovelace, chapter 3, in King Kong, trade softcover edition, Nevada City, Calif.: Underwood Books, published 2005, →ISBN, page 19:

Forms

Antonyms

make bones about

Relateds

unflinching · unhesitating · unsparing · make bones about · find no bones in · mince words · have a bone to pick

Translations (7)

pl nie owijać w bawełnę (to do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant) · fi sanoa suoraan (to do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant) · el έξω απ’ τα δόντια (to do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant) · de frei heraus sagen (to do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant) · de nicht viel Aufhebens machen um (to do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant) · de kein Aufheben machen von (to do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant) · de keine Umschweife machen (to do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant)