skeleton crew

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English

Etymology

By metaphor, with the crew as a corporate body being bare bones rather than adequately fleshed out.

Pronunciation

Noun

skeleton crew (plural skeleton crews)

  1. (idiomatic) The minimum number of personnel needed to operate and maintain an item at its most simple operating requirements, such as a ship or business, during an emergency or shutdown, and at the same time, to keep vital functions operating.
    • 2022 November 4, Kate Conger, Ryan Mac, Mike Isaac, “Confusion and Frustration Reign as Elon Musk Cuts Half of Twitter’s Staff”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
      The internet technology team — which is partly responsible for keeping the site functioning — became “a skeleton crew,” two people said.

See also