Re: To Make One's Bones

Posted by ESC on March 24, 2003

In Reply to: To Make One's Bones posted by S. on March 24, 2003

: Any idea as to the origin of "to make one's bones", meaning roughly "to establish one's credentials"?

: Thanks in advance for any assistance.

That's a Mafia/organized crime term. A man had to kill someone before he could be included in the inner circle as a "made man." At least that's the way it is in the movies.