Dry as a bone
Posted by Coat dry as a bone on January 06, 2001
In Reply to: Dry as a bone posted by ESC on June 07, 2000
: : This should be a simple one but I cant find anything on "DRY AS A BONE". Can you help?
: I can't find anything specific on "dry as a bone" in my phrase origin books. But the Bible has several reference to "dry bones." "The valley...was full of bones...and, lo, they were very dry." Ezekiel 37:1-2; and "O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord." Ezekiel 37:4.
: To me, "dry bones" refers to the bones of long-dead creatures. Bones picked clean and drying in the hot sun. Bones like the skull of a cow in the desert, an image that's become a visual cliche. Dry as a bone, in that instance, is very dry indeed.
: Suddenly I have an urge for a glass of ice water.
- Dry as a bone ESC 01/07/01