Bone Up On - Idiom of the Day for IELTS Speaking and Writing

As you prepare for your IELTS exam, idioms can be a powerful tool to present your views with clarity and natural fluency. One such useful idiom is “bone up on,” which is a phrase frequently used in academic, professional, and everyday real-life scenarios. 

If you are someone planning to enhance your speech or make your writing sound more natural and authentic, this idiom of “bone up on” is a great choice to add to your vocabulary list.

In this blog, you will be learning the meaning, history, synonyms, antonyms, common mistakes, and much more to help you use “bone up on” perfectly and effectively in your IELTS Speaking or Writing.

Meaning of the Idiom “Bone Up On”

This idiom “bone up on” means to study something intensively, mainly in a short period of time. This is usually to prepare for an exam, a project meeting, an interview, or any other scenario that demands specific knowledge.

It is similar to the phrases, “revise thoroughly,” “brush up on,” or “learn faster.” The emphasis is on rapid and focused learning.

For Example:

• “I need to bone up on a list of academic vocabulary before the IELTS exam.”
• “He boned up on Indian history before his civil services interview.”

The idiom is informal and is commonly used in everyday conversation, academic scenarios, and workplace environments.

Where Did the Idiom “Bone Up On” Come From?

The origin of the “bone up on” idiom is surprisingly interesting. This comes from the 19th-century American phrase “to bone,” which meant “to study hard.” 

One more theory about its history dates back to 1846, when Henry George Bohn, a publisher in Britain, published the Bohn’s Libraries, which contained information on various topics. 

The students used these books to prepare for their exams. Soon, this practice was being called “Bohning up” on topics for exams. The pronunciation of Bohn sounded very similar to bone, and the idiom “ Boning up on” came into existence. The idiom was widely in use between 1850 to 1873

Regardless of the exact origin, in the late 1800s, the phrase “bone up” became directly associated with intense studying or preparing for something quickly and diligently. Now, the idiom is mainly popular in the American and British English languages. 

Examples to Understand the Usage of “Bone Up On” in Sentences

1. The young scientist was boning up on the theory of relativity.

2. Jim was asked to reconstruct the house. So he decided to bone up on the plan of the house.

3. The new recruit was given some documents to bone up on.

4. The furniture sale has come down drastically. The sales team needs to bone up on the marketing techniques.

5. I needed to bone up on IELTS Writing Task 2 strategies before my final exam next week.

6. She boned up on French culture right before moving to Paris.

7. Our company asked the employees to bone up on new safety regulations.

8. He is boning up on interview questions to prepare for his dream job.

9. We all must bone up on the new software before the training session.

10. Before travelling to Japan, my sister boned up on basic Japanese phrases.

11. Students usually bone up on grammar right before their English and other language exams.

Synonyms of the Idiom “Bone Up On”

Here are some equivalent words and expressions that convey a similar meaning:

• Brushing up on
• Studying intensively
• Revising thoroughly
• Diving into
• Doing intensive reading on
• Improving knowledge of
• Getting up to speed on
• Learning the basics quickly

Antonyms of the Idiom “Bone Up On”

Opposites of the idiom “bone up on” include:

• Ignoring
• Overlooking
• Neglect studying
• Skipping the learning part
• Being unprepared
• Avoiding reading
• Don’t revise
• Forgetting about

A Sample Scenario to Use the Idiom “Bone Up On”

Scenario 1:

Teacher: Your scores are very low in Science.
Student: Yes mam. I need to bone up on it.
Teacher: Yeah. It’s time you did that.

Scenario 2:

Friend 1: I’m deputed to Assam for 6 months. I’m wondering how to get along there?
Friend 2: Buy a book on “ How to learn Assamese in 10 days” and bone up on it.
Friend 1: Ok. I will.

Scenario 3:

Student: I want to enrol for the piano classes.
Teacher: Please do. And don’t forget to bone up on basic music notes before you come for the classes.
Student: Sure, I will.

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Using the Idiom “Bone Up On”

1. Using it excessively in a formal writing context

This idiom is informal. Hence, you must avoid using it in academic IELTS Writing Task 2 essays unless the tone suits it. It can be used better for speaking and informal letter writing.

2. Incorrect placement of “on”

You must be using “on” after “bone up.”

• Incorrect Usage: “She need to bone up her grammar.”
• Correct Usage: “She needs to bone up on her grammar.”

3. Confusing it with the phrases “bone in” or “bone out”

This idiom has nothing to do with the real bones of a living being or physical actions.

4. Using it for topics unrelated to learning

It must only be used to refer to a topic that is related to studying, revising, or understanding a particular topic, and not physical tasks or emotional experiences.

Also Check:

• Once in a Blue Moon Idiom: Meaning, Definition & Synonyms
• A Leopard Cannot Change His Spots – Idiom of the Day for IELTS   
• Get the Picture – Idiom Meaning, Examples & IELTS Speaking Practice