to the backbone

English

Prepositional phrase

to the backbone

1. (idiomatic) Through and through; thoroughly; entirely.

   Synonyms: to the bone, to the core; see also Thesaurus:to the full

   • 1834, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, The Last Days of Pompeii:

     staunch to the backbone

   • 1894, Richard William Murray, South African Reminiscences, page 138:

     Sir Culling was an extreme Low Churchman, an Exeter Hallite to the backbone, and the head and front of the Platitudinarian Party.

   • 1907, Alfred Thayer Mahan, From Sail to Steam: Reflections of Naval Life:

     In temperament he was Dutch to the backbone — at least as we imagine Dutch.