Make no bones about it
Meaning
To speak very directly and frankly about something, without hesitation or concealment.
Origin
In the rough-and-ready dining halls of medieval England, a common complaint was finding bones in one's soup or stew. To 'make bones about something' literally meant to find difficulty or objection, much like having to pick bones out of your food. A person who was not particular, or who accepted what was given without fuss, would 'make no bones about it'—meaning they ate whatever was served, bones and all, without complaint. Over time, this literal act of uncomplaining consumption transformed into a vivid idiom for speaking frankly and directly, without hesitation or difficulty, much like someone who finds no obstacle in their path.
Examples
- She made no bones about her disapproval of the new policy, stating her objections clearly at the meeting.
- When asked if he liked the meal, he made no bones about it, saying it was the worst he'd ever tasted.