Be direct and honest about something without hesitation or apology. To speak plainly and clearly without trying to soften or disguise the truth.
Dating to the 1400s, this phrase likely comes from finding bones in soup - if there were no bones to worry about, you could eat without hesitation. Another theory suggests it refers to dice (originally made from bones) - 'making no bones' meant not trying to influence the outcome.
The phrase has survived centuries because it perfectly captures that moment when someone drops all pretense and speaks with refreshing directness. Whether from soup or dice, the 'bones' represent obstacles to straightforward action or speech.
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