make no bones about something—be blunt and straightforward about smth.; speak about smth. openly:
- Lovecraft made no bones about being a complete atheist.
make one’s bones—
1. (Underworld) kill smb. as requirement for membership in a criminal gang:
- Vito Corleone “made his bones” (first killing) in cold blood for dollars.
2. (sl.) earn a reputation; achieve success:
- John Daly eventually made his bones, so to speak, as a reporter by covering World War II in Europe.