make no bones about
verbUK /ˌmeɪk nəʊ ˈbəʊnz əˌbaʊt/ · US /ˌmeɪk noʊ ˈboʊnz əˌbaʊt/
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.
1
Idiomatic To do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant.
- [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:
- 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:
4 more examples
- 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:
- 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:
- 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:
- Related terms
- find no bones in, have a bone to pick, make bones about, mince words, unflinching, unhesitating, unsparing