cut to the bone
- severeExtremely harsh or strict
- drasticSevere and far-reaching
- harshUnpleasantly severe or rough
- bareLacking any covering
- strippedHad coverings removed
lean · minimal · austerity · slash · deep · wound · marrow · raw · brutal · painful · sharp · reduce · trim · slice · skeletal · spare · stark · frugal
degree of reduction/minimization
cut to the bonespare no expense
Spend without limit
go all out · bulk up · build up · flesh out · pad out
physical/emotional depth of wound (literal sense)
cut to the bonescratch the surface
Examine only superficially
nick · graze · skin-deep · flesh wound