English, baby!

throw someone a bone

Date: May 21 2009

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

“Yeah, I’d do a music project with Ryan. I’d throw him a bone. I know he needs the work.”

- Mandy Moore joking about working with her new husband, Ryan Adams. (Entertainment Weekly)

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

give someone a small reward or compliment

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

When you throw a dog a bone, it makes that dog very happy. But it probably isn’t a big deal for you. If you hadn’t given the bone to the dog, you probably would’ve just thrown it in the trash.

Similarly, the expression give someone a bone means do someone a small favor or give him or her a little reward. The reward might not be very big or special, especially to the person who gives it. But it can be really important to the person who receives it.

So why would Mandy Moore have to throw a bone to her husband, the singer Ryan Adams? Adams is already a successful, famous musician. But Mandy makes fun of him by saying that he needs work. She says she’d be willing to throw him a bone by working with him on a music project.

Hmmm…does that mean Mandy thinks her husband is a dog?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

“Don’t throw Ryan a bone, or he’ll think you like him.”

“Could someone please throw me a bone? I could really use some help.”

“Let’s invite Haley to the party. That poor girl needs someone to throw her a bone.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

	give someone at least a tiny piece of encouragement, reaction, response, help. by VOLTS
	IT MAY MEAN GIVING SOMEONE A SMALL REWARD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT MAYBE SOME KIND WORDS TO MAKE ONE FEEL GOOD EVEN THEY HAVE NOT ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTED MUCH..... by Unless
	IT MEANS THAT SHE WILL HELP HER A LITTLE. by Despotis Evelyn
	give sb a chance to do sth. by bobbie-bao
	give someone exactly what him or she wants or needs. by CatherineVanilla
	I think it is u've gave him a offer by franky_wang
	help someone, help out another person by Gellerke
	When you "throw someone a bone", u give a person some kind of help,(for example) using the privelege of ur position. by RadistkaAnn
	I would help him by monacovalentina
	To let someone have a little bit of what you got or won as a favor and to protect your self from his envy. by egyptophile
	to give attention to somebody who is always seeking you by lalobrown
	To give someone a little praise, recognition by Sezai
	give somebody a chance by heavenliu

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Comments

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emmashow1280

China

it is sounds weird ,i totally agree Michael blee -.i am not sure it is " throw someone a bone "is a derogatory term?

阿飞

China

I think it means doing someone a favor…

pizzachuwave

Thailand

ohhh i like it

give me a bone plzz

—sounds wierd

lol

jinxiangyu35

China

yeah.sometimes it may not be very comfortable to be thrown a bone to… if you are not so willing to accepte the "bone ".hehe . but it is really a good thing if you need the "bone"