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    Where did the phrase "bone up" originate?

    Question #43406. Asked by tjoebigham.

    sequoianoir

    From the classics study texts that were published by Henry George Bohn, 1796-1884

    http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/meanings/70800.html

    Jan 15 04, 12:12 PM
    satguru

    My Eric Partridge book isn't sure, it's either from a bone for polishing shoes (???) or from Bohn's translations of the classics. Obscure or what? Came into use from Canada in the 1910s

    Jan 15 04, 12:15 PM

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