make no bones about

UK/ˌmeɪk nəʊ ˈbəʊnz əˌbaʊt/US/ˌmeɪk noʊ ˈboʊnz əˌbaʊt/

verb

To do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant.

Opposite
make bones about
First used 16th c.
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Meanings

verbmake no bones about (third-person singular simple present makes no bones about, present participle making no bones about, simple past and past participle made no bones about)

present singular third person makes no bones about · participle present making no bones about · participle past made no bones about · past made no bones about

  1. idiomaticTo do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant.First known use 16th c.

    [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
    5 more examples

    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

    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

    Antonyms: make bones about

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant.

Opposite
make bones about

Origin

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.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish sanoa suoraan
  • sanoa suoraanto do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant
German frei heraus sagen, kein Aufheben machen von
  • frei heraus sagento do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant
  • kein Aufheben machen vonto do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant
  • keine Umschweife machento do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant
  • nicht viel Aufhebens machen umto do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant
Greek έξω απ’ τα δόντια
  • έξω απ’ τα δόντια (éxo ap’ ta dóntia)to do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant
Polish nie owijać w bawełnę
  • nie owijać w bawełnęto do, indicate, or say something clearly and without hesitation, even if it may be unpleasant
Cite this entry
APA

make no bones about. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20no%20bones%20about

MLA

“make no bones about.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20no%20bones%20about. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “make no bones about,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/make%20no%20bones%20about.

Source: make no bones about on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.