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3. be close to the bone

be close to the bone

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be close to the bone

To be very close to the truth in a hurtful way. Of course I'm mad—dad's remarks about how I'm wasting my life were close to the bone.

See also: bone, close

be close to the bone

  also be near the bone

if something you say or write is close to the bone, it is close to the truth in a way that may offend someone He said he was only joking, but his comments were a bit close to the bone. Your remark about people who've been in trouble with the police was very near the bone.

See also: bone, close