to the bone

idiom

1
: very much
We were frozen to the bone.
The threatening look in his eyes chilled me to the bone.
2
: as much as possible
The company has cut costs to the bone in an effort to save money.

Examples of to the bone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
See all the stars getting SCAD to the bone below. Patrick Gomez, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Feb. 2026 And that dislocation tore the labrum, which is the tissue that surrounds the socket and attaches it to the bone. Jenny McCoy, SELF, 10 Feb. 2026 From snowfall to sub-freezing temperatures, this harsh winter has left many cold to the bone, from the physical to the emotional. Barry Pintar, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026 Bettmann Archive Less than two weeks before competition, Tenley Emma Albright, a polio survivor, suffered a serious injury when her left skate cut her right ankle joint to the bone. Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for to the bone

Cite this Entry

“To the bone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/to%20the%20bone. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster