Barebones


the irreducible minimum; the most essential components:
Reduce this report to its bare bones. There is nothing left of the town but the bare bones—a couple of stores, a church, and a few houses.
Contemporary Examples

From that meeting, they generate a barebones, two-page outline.
This Is How an Episode of Cartoon Network’s ‘Adventure Time’ Is Made Rich Goldstein December 18, 2013

Historical Examples

barebones’ Parliament, a body full of stiff-backed and fanatical Independents, soon proved too restive for its creator.
A History of England Charles Oman

He was a prominent member of the barebones Parliament, but after its extinction ceased to exercise any political influence.
State Trials, Political and Social Various

And old Father Murray is just the dearest old man ever was, and hasn’t got a long, solemn face like Mr. barebones.
The Actress’ Daughter May Agnes Fleming

Your barebones, and Hop-an’-jumps, and creatures of that vulgar herd, are quite out of my category.’
Miss Elliot’s Girls Mrs Mary Spring Corning

The mere essentials or plain, unadorned framework of something, as in This outline gives just the bare bones of the story; details will come later. This phrase transfers the naked skeleton of a body to figurative use. [ c. 1900 ]

Read Also:

  • Bared

    without covering or clothing; naked; nude: bare legs. without the usual furnishings, contents, etc.: bare walls. open to view; unconcealed; undisguised: his bare dislike of neckties. unadorned; bald; plain: the bare facts. (of cloth) napless or threadbare. scarcely or just sufficient; mere: the bare necessities of life. Obsolete. with the head uncovered; bareheaded. to open […]

  • Barefaced lie

    A shameless falsehood. For example, Bill could tell a barefaced lie with a straight face. The adjective barefaced means “beardless,” and one theory is that in the 1500s this condition was considered brazen in all but the youngest males. By the late 1600s barefaced also meant “brazen” or “bold,” the meaning alluded to in this […]

  • Barefooted

    Also, barefooted. with the feet bare: a barefoot boy; to walk barefoot. Carpentry. (of a post or stud) secured to a sill or the like without mortising. Historical Examples The same tools made addresses from the courts and even engaged every barefooted fellow to sign addresses from the counties. Give Me Liberty Thomas J. Wertenbaker […]

  • Barege

    a sheer fabric constructed in a leno weave of silk warp and cotton or worsted filling, often used to make veils and dresses. Historical Examples The gingham will last longer than the barege, and will be good for more uses after it is outworn as a dress. A New Atmosphere Gail Hamilton She did her […]

  • Barehead

    with the head uncovered. adjective, adverb with head uncovered


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