All skin and bones
Meaning
Describes a person or animal that is extremely thin, often to an unhealthy degree.
Origin
Imagine someone so utterly wasted, their form reduced to the bare minimum. The phrase 'all skin and bones' isn't born from some ancient tale or obscure ritual; it's a stark, visceral observation, powerful precisely because it describes what you see. It vividly paints a picture of extreme emaciation, where flesh has receded so completely that only the thin covering of skin over the prominent skeletal structure remains. This raw, direct description has been used for centuries, across countless cultures, to convey the shocking reality of severe hunger, illness, or deprivation. It's a phrase that hits hard because it brings the stark image of a body stripped bare directly to your mind.
Examples
- After weeks in the hospital, my grandmother was all skin and bones, but thankfully she's gaining weight now.
- The stray dog wandered into our yard, looking all skin and bones, so we immediately gave him food and water.