throwing someone a bone
Offering minimal help
To throw someone a bone is to offer a small concession, favor, or bit of recognition—often to appease rather than genuinely help.
The image is of tossing scraps to a dog: something to keep them satisfied without giving them what they really want.
The committee threw her a bone by including one of her suggestions.
The phrase often carries a dismissive undertone, implying the gesture is token rather than meaningful.
- olive branchSymbol of reconciliation
- placateLessen someone's anger
- mollifyReduce anger or distress
- pacifyTo calm agitation
- soften the blowReduce harshness of bad news
peace offering · keeping the peace · appeasement · mitigate · calm down · compromise · token gesture · soothe · symbolic act · empty promise · consolation prize · half-measure · bare minimum · lip service · scraps · table scraps · manipulation · reassure
throwing someone a bonebending over backwards
Extreme effort to please
moving heaven and earth · pulling out all the stops · going all out · bending over backward · rolling out the red carpet
throwing someone a bonepatronizing
Treating someone as inferior
snubbing · brushing off · honoring · cold shoulder · condescension