- close to the bone
- close to the bone same as ↑near the bone (see below).• • •Main Entry: ↑bone
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close to the bone phrasetelling the truth about a subject that people prefer not to think about, in a way that may offend or upset peopleHis comments about racism may be too close to the bone for some people.
Thesaurus: words used to describe honest and sincere people and behavioursynonymMain entry: bone* * *
I close to (or near) the bone1) (of a remark) penetrating and accurate to the point of causing hurt or discomfortIIsee bone* * *
• • •Main Entry: ↑bone————————close to the bone◇ If something is close to the bone, it is very honest and deals with sensitive issues that can shock people or hurt their feelings.His joke about racism in America cut pretty close to the bone.
• • •Main Entry: ↑close* * *
close to the ˈbone idiom(BrE, informal) (of a remark, joke, story, etc.) so honest or clearly expressed that it is likely to cause offence to some people•
His comments about her size were a bit close to the bone.
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Some of the sex scenes in the play were judged by critics to be too close to the bone.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.