meat on the bones

English

Alternative forms

• flesh on the bones

Noun

meat on the bones (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic, often preceded by put) A substantial addition to or augmentation of the content of something, especially something which is unfinished or incomplete.
   • 2009 October 11, Ashley Seager, “Has Darling or Osborne the best plan for cutting the deficit?”, in Guardian, UK, retrieved 12 June 2022:

     The Conservatives finally put some meat on the bones of their plans at their annual conference last week.

   • 2014 June 16, Allison Stewart, “Music: 'Ultraviolence' is the set of songs Lana Del Rey was invented to sing”, in Washington Post, retrieved 12 June 2022:

     Co-producer Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys puts meat on the bones of songs that often feel like little more than drowsily repeated phrases.

   • 2020 April 28, Robert Benzie, “Doug Ford promises more details this week”, in The Star, Toronto, Canada, retrieved 12 June 2022:

     As Premier Doug Ford scrambles to put some meat on the bones of his vague plan for reopening the economy, he’s asking businesses to suggest regulatory shortcuts.

See also

• flesh out
• meat on one's bones