knuckle bones

knucklebones

Dice. Used especially in figurative phrases alluding to a situation dependent on chance. (The knuckle bones of sheep were used in ancient times for divination purposes.) I knew my father was probably down at the casino again tossing knuckle bones. Hundreds of financial institutions wagered their clients' funds on what turned out to be a toss of the knucklebones. Some struck gold, but most just wound up with nothing.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

knuckle bones

n. dice. (An elaboration of bones.) Roll them knuckle bones and tell me that your expense needs earth pads.
See also: bone, knuckle
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • knucklebones
  • the well has run dry
  • well's run dry, the
  • up to one's ears/eyes/eyebrows, to be
  • Do I have to draw (you) a picture?
  • Do I have to draw a picture?
  • the/an answer to (one's) prayer(s)
  • the answer to somebody's prayers
  • be history
  • crying towel
References in periodicals archive
Food items are especially popular: raw knuckle bones for cheetahs to gnaw on, whole watermelons for zebras to break open.
TQ-Max has converted the old game of Astragal, typically played using sheep knuckle bones, into a hardwearing, durable and portable version, which can be played anywhere, at any time.
As the general elections draw near, the knuckle bones of prediction are again up in the air.
Ham bones, pork femur bones, rib bones and smokey knuckle bones were among those listed in the illness reports.
Treats described as "ham bones", rib bones", "pork femur bones" and "smokey knuckle bones" are treats included in the study which could possibly lead to symptoms such as choking, vomiting or even death, the FDA said.
Beef Bone Broth Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 12 to 24 hours Yield: Varies depending on pot size (there are enough ingredients to make 1 gallon of broth) 4-5 pounds grass-fed beef bones, preferably marrow, joints, and knuckle bones 1 beef or pig's foot 3 pounds meaty bones, such as oxtail, shank, or short ribs 1/4-1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, depending on the size of the pot Purified water to just cover the bones in the pot 2-4 carrots, scrubbed and coarsely chopped 2 ribs celery, including leafy part, coarsely chopped 1 onion, cut into large chunks 2 bay leaves 1 or 2 whole cloves 1 tablespoon black peppercorns Place all the bones in a large stockpot or slow cooker.
This time it is the knuckle bones of the two outside fingers that are affected.
SOUR BEEF TEA Serves 8 For the sour beef tea: 11 kilograms beef knuckle bones 1 kilogram onion, peeled and halved 240 grams barley miso 150 grams garlic, peeled and halved 15 grams black peppercorns, toasted 502 milliliters balsamic vinegar 368 milliliters red wine Salt to taste For the dish: Ripe hachiya persimmon, sliced Chili oil or other aromatic oil Chili paste FOR THE SOUR beef TEA: Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
"But I think the majority of teeth that I've seen broken have been on those big beef bones, or knuckle bones."
The list of folk art is expansive: treen objects (literally of a tree) such as Welsh love spoons wood and bone lace bobbins; Valentines made from shells, carved whales' teeth, known as scrimshaw, made on long, lonely voyages; duck decoys used by hunters to lure their prey; apple corers made from the knuckle bones of sheep; ships' figureheads; weather vanes; tavern signs; trench art, items made from the spent shell cases and other detritus of war; early Staffordshire flatbacks, decorative ceramic figures meant to stand on hearth or mantelpiece let me know when you'd like me to stop.
Since it's owned by American Food Group, the fifth largest meat processor in the U.S., it's only natural that Mitchell, S.D.-based Performance Pet Products would market a line of all-natural bones, including knuckle bones and femurs.
The reason we don't have as much medieval stained glass, gilded statuary and boxes of saints' knuckle bones in our churches as do, say, the French, is because yokels with pikestaffs burst in and smashed them all in a fit of Dissolution, Reformation and Puritan pique.
But then the human knuckle bones were spotted in the bottom of the cooking pot.
thin hands, bumpy knuckle bones of the dancer she once was,
Some time later - nobody is really sure when - Tommy broke an upper molar tooth, probably when he was chewing one of the big knuckle bones that his owners gave him.