make no bones about it
idiomatic phrase

- to say clearly what you think or feel about something

-  to not try to hide something or say you are sorry about it

- to not hesitate to express your thoughts or feelings about something, even though other people will not like what you say

The Cambridge Dictionary / Merriam Webster / Collins Dictionary

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PHRASE ORIGIN

The phrase first appeared in print in the 16th century, and its exact origins may remain a mystery.

It could have referred to finding fishbones and other bones in soup, and thus being difficult to swallow. Therefore, finding bones was bad, and no bones was good.

Regardless of its roots, the meaning of the phrase has been consistent for centuries, referring to speaking or acting without hesitation or difficulty.

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A SHORT HISTORY OF BONY IDIOMS

- a bone of contention = something that two or more people argue about strongly over a long period of time (1560s)

- to have a bone to pick with someone =  to want to talk to someone about something annoying they have done (1560s)

- lazybones = a lazy person (1590s)

- to work one's fingers to the bone = to work painfully hard, especially with one’s hands (1809)

- to feel something in one's bones = to have a presentiment (1867)

- a bone-shaker = a name for the early type of bicycle, before rubber tires (1874)

- sawbones = a nickname for a surgeon (1887)

- to knuckle down = to get started to work seriously (1880s)

- a knuckle-head = a stupid person (1890)

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SYNONYMS

acknowledge openly, admit candidly, air unreservedly, avow plainly, be aboveboard (blunt, candid, clear, frank, open, straightforward, upfront), come clean, confess readily, declare plainly, disclose willingly, don't hold back (mince words), express unequivocally, get off one's chest, give it to someone straight, lay it on the line, let me be clear (there be no doubt), make a clean breast of it, MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT, not beat around the bush (pull any punches, sugarcoat anything), put all one's cards on the table, say it like it is, speak one's mind (plainly), tell it like it is (the naked truth, without reserve), voice openly, without any reservations (concealment, without holding back)

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“I’LL MAKE NO BONES ABOUT stealing jokes; I’m simply recycling humour.”

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