back at (something or some place)

1. Having returned to some specific building. We should be back at our apartment by 9 PM. I wonder if Tom and the kids are already back at the house. You're back at the apartment already? Wow, how fast were you driving?

2. In some specific building that one has already left. Dang it, I forgot my briefcase back at the office. How did I leave my lunch back at home again? That's the third time this week! Oh, please tell me I didn't leave my book report back at the computer lab!

3. Having returned to some activity, especially school or work, after a hiatus. Sarah's been out sick for a week, but she said she should be back at school on Monday. I really found it hard being back at work after such a long vacation. A: "You're back at the office already?" B: "Don't remind me—that vacation was way too short!"

bare bones

1. noun The essential and most elementary parts of something; a general outline or summary. Please don't go through each line item in the budget—just give me the bare bones. We're having a pop quiz in English class today? Oh man, OK, tell me the bare bones of the plot. Here are the bare bones, just what is essential to know going into this conference.

2. adjective Having only the minimum of what is required. Hyphenated if used before a noun. The apartment is pretty bare bones, but rent is cheap, and I don't spend much time there, so I don't mind. We were given a pretty bare-bones budget to make this app, so it isn't very fancy or anything. Here is a bare-bones list of what is essential to know going into this conference.

be back at (something or some place)

1. To have returned to some specific building. We should be back at our apartment by 9 PM. I wonder if Tom and the kids are already back at the house. You're back at the apartment already? Wow, how fast were you driving?

2. To be in some specific building that one has already left. Dang it, my briefcase is back at the office. I'll have to go back for it. Seriously? My lunch is back at the house? Man, I could have sworn I remembered it today! Oh no, I think my book report is back at the computer lab. I'll have to go get it before class starts!

3. To have returned to some activity, especially school or work, after a hiatus. Sarah's been out sick for a week, but she said she should be back at school on Monday. I really found it hard being back at work after such a long vacation. A: "You're back at the office already?" B: "Don't remind me—that vacation was way too short!"

bare bones

The mere essentials or plain, unadorned framework of something, as in This outline gives just the bare bones of the story; details will come later. This phrase transfers the naked skeleton of a body to figurative use. [c. 1900]