The phrase “whittled down to the bone” means something has been reduced or cut back to its most basic or essential form, often to the point where only the core elements remain. It suggests a process of elimination or removal, leaving behind very little.
Examples of Usage:
- Financial Context:
“The budget has been whittled down to the bone after all the cuts.”
Here, it means the budget has been significantly reduced, and only the bare minimum remains. - Time Management:
“Our schedule was whittled down to the bone, with no room for breaks.”
This implies the schedule has been condensed or shortened to the absolute essentials. - Physical or Literal Meaning:
“After the feast, there was a chicken carcass whittled down to the bone.”
This describes the act of removing nearly all the meat from the chicken, leaving just the bone.
Origins:
The expression likely comes from the process of whittling wood, where a person slowly carves away small bits of material until only the final shape is left, much like removing all excess to reveal only the essential parts.
In short, it means to strip down or cut away everything unnecessary, leaving the most minimal or fundamental components.