Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
a bag of bones
idiom
/ə bæɡ əv boʊnz/
Definition
An expression used to describe someone who is very thin, frail, or emaciated.
Examples
- After the long illness, he looked like a bag of bones.
- The stray dog was nothing but a bag of bones when we found him.
- She used to be athletic, but now she’s just a bag of bones.
Meaning
The phrase implies that the person lacks muscle and body weight, often suggesting that they may be sick or unwell.
Synonyms
- skin and bones
- scrawny
- emaciated
