The idiom skeleton crew refers to the minimum number of people needed to operate a business, organization, or project. It is often used when a company or team is operating with fewer staff than usual, typically during holidays, emergencies, or periods of reduced activity.
For example, if a store is open on a holiday, it might operate with a skeleton crew, meaning only a few essential employees are working to keep the store running. This ensures that the business can continue to function, even if it is not at full capacity.
The term skeleton crew comes from the idea of a skeleton being the basic framework of a body. Similarly, a skeleton crew is the basic framework of a workforce, providing just enough support to keep things running smoothly.