bare bones

The bare bones is the absolute minimum, the plain essential elements or facts, or the most basic framework of something.

Bare often means uncovered, but in this case it means unadorned, plain, or scarcely or just sufficient. Bare bones is often used to refer to something that only includes its essential parts and nothing else.

The adjective form bare-bones means most basic and without any frills, as in My apartment is pretty bare-bones, with just a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette. 

Example: After the seniors graduate, the team will be left with only the bare bones of a squad, so they’ll need to recruit some more members.

​

Shakespeare used the term bare bone to refer to a skinny person in 1598, but the first records of bare bones referring to the bare essentials come from about 300 years later. The phrase is a reference to the skeleton as the essential framework of the body.

Bare bones can mean “the bare minimum,” as in With only the bare bones to work with, we’ll essentially have to start from scratch. It often refers to the essential components or facts, as in Don’t go into detail—just give me the bare bones. It can also mean “the basic framework,” as in You have the bare bones of a plan here, but it needs to be fleshed out. If a house is stripped to its bare bones, it usually means only the frame and foundation are left intact.

The adjective bare-bones is typically applied to things in their most basic or essential state, with nothing added, as in We need to operate with a bare-bones budget—we don’t have the money for anything other than the necessities.

What are some synonyms for bare bones?

• essentials

What are some synonyms for bare-bones?

• basic
• austere

What are some words that share a root or word element with bare bones? 

• bare
• bones
• bare necessities
• bare hands

What are some words that often get used in discussing bare bones?

• essential
• plain
• minimum
• element
• part
• unadorned
• framework
• skeleton
• core

Bare bones is often used to refer to things that should or will eventually have more elements. These are most often negative situations, but the term can be used positively, too—a bare-bones approach to performing a task might be a welcome change from an overly complex method.

Newcastle down to the bare bones this weekend – John Carver has just 13 fit senior players plus two goalkeepers to choose from.

— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) March 19, 2015

Hand in hand with only the bare bones of a plan

— 🌹 ᏟᏂᴦiႽႠiႶᏋ 🌛🎶🎵 (@Daaeismyname) July 27, 2019

How do "gold" healthcare plans for Utah's lawmakers compare to the bare-bones coverage being considered for the poor? http://t.co/EhlAVI11E7

— The Salt Lake Tribune (@sltrib) March 8, 2015

Is bare bones used correctly in the following sentence?

I removed parts from the machine until only the bare bones were left.