throw somebody a bone

throw (one) a bone

To attempt to appease or placate someone by giving them something trivial or of minor importance or by doing some small favor for them. (A reference to giving a dog a bone or scrap from a bigger portion of food.) My younger brother is always pleading for me to help out his career, so I threw him a bone and got him a small gig.

See also: bone, throw

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

throw somebody a ˈbone

give somebody a small part of what they want as a way of showing that you want to help or because you feel sympathy for them: The government threw a bone to environmentalists by acknowledging the need for cleaner energy. (American English, informal) Throw me a bone here! (= give me a little help)

See also: bone, somebody, throw

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