C1idiominformalhealthIELTS-friendly
skin and bone
USUK
extremely thin, usually because of illness or hunger
Often after 'all' or 'nothing but'. American English often says 'skin and bones'. It suggests worry, not a compliment.
In context
After two months in hospital, my uncle was nothing but skin and bone.
The stray cat we found was all skin and bone, so we fed it every day.
More idioms about health
- a clean bill of healtha doctor's statement, after an examination, that someone is healthy
- a new lease of lifenew energy, or a chance to be active or useful again
- a ripe old agea very old age, reached in good health
- a second windnew energy that lets you continue after you felt too tired
- a shadow of your former selfmuch weaker, thinner or less impressive than before