Etymology Journal · W
Worn to the bone
Meaning
- To be extremely thin or, more commonly, to be completely exhausted. It suggests the work has worn away your outer layers and you are down to your core self.
Serious, weary
Used in a sentence
- After walking ten miles in the mud, I was worn to the bone.
- Caring for the sick puppy left her feeling worn to the bone.
- The marathon runners looked worn to the bone by the final mile.
The backstory
This is a very old expression rooted in the idea that if you grind away at something long enough, you will eventually expose the skeleton. It has been used for centuries to describe severe fatigue.
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