He is bone-idle. vs He is a bone-idle.

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'He is bone-idle.' is the more common and idiomatic way to express someone's laziness. 'He is a bone-idle.' could be used in a specific context where 'a' is needed before the adjective.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 1153 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used to describe someone as very lazy.

"He is bone-idle."

This phrase is used to describe someone who is extremely lazy or idle. It is an idiomatic expression.

Examples:

He is bone-idle and never helps with the chores.
She is bone-idle and spends all day watching TV.
The student is bone-idle and never studies for exams.
Don't be bone-idle; get up and do something productive.
His bone-idle attitude is affecting the team's performance.

Show examples from the web [+]

Because I had a go at him for being bone idle, sir.
Until he is vámonos, he is everybody's problem.
He is doing what he is told.
He is prepping an indie that he is going to direct.
He is behaving this way because he is not mature yet.
He is dangerous, and he is planning something horrific.
He is completely unaware of how absolutely adorable he is.
He is a primary school teacher, so he is used to dealing with children.
He is active although he is very old.
He is becoming accustomed to the horrors he is witnessing.
He is wrong because he is watering down the position adopted by this House previously in the Berès report.
He is bold, he is smart, he is ruthless, and from what we understand, he wants to plant his flag in the U.S.
He is not here and he is detained doing the work that he is meant to do: chairing the Convention.
He is never asked what he is doing out at that time or why he is intoxicated.
He is the Commissioner who was conducting those talks, he is here today and he is refusing to answer the question.
He is coming for my friend.
Lord Wellington goes wherever he is needed.
Because he is trustworthy, Barry.
That he is governor is immaterial.
He is someone filled with regret.

Alternatives:

He is extremely lazy.
He is very idle.
He is incredibly lazy.
He is extremely idle.
He is a lazybones.

This phrase is correct but less common. It could be used in a specific context where 'a' is needed before the adjective.

"He is a bone-idle."

This phrase could be used when 'a' is needed before the adjective to specify a particular type of laziness. It is less common than 'he is bone-idle.'

Show examples from the web [+]

Because I had a go at him for being bone idle, sir.
Until he is vámonos, he is everybody's problem.
He is doing what he is told.
He is prepping an indie that he is going to direct.
He is behaving this way because he is not mature yet.
He is dangerous, and he is planning something horrific.
He is completely unaware of how absolutely adorable he is.
He is a primary school teacher, so he is used to dealing with children.
He is active although he is very old.
He is becoming accustomed to the horrors he is witnessing.
He is wrong because he is watering down the position adopted by this House previously in the Berès report.
He is bold, he is smart, he is ruthless, and from what we understand, he wants to plant his flag in the U.S.
He is not here and he is detained doing the work that he is meant to do: chairing the Convention.
He is never asked what he is doing out at that time or why he is intoxicated.
He is the Commissioner who was conducting those talks, he is here today and he is refusing to answer the question.
He is coming for my friend.
Lord Wellington goes wherever he is needed.
Because he is trustworthy, Barry.
That he is governor is immaterial.
He is someone filled with regret.

Alternatives:

He is a very lazy person.
He is a particularly idle individual.
He is a truly lazy individual.
He is a completely idle person.
He is a lazybones.

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He is bone-idle. vs He is a bone-idle.

"He is bone-idle."

"He is a bone-idle."

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