Meaning of skeleton crew | Babel Free

Definitions

A crew consisting of the minimum number of personnel needed to maintain and operate the basic functions of something, such as a business, a factory, or a ship.

idiomatic

Examples

“[T]he ships of the English navy were left with skeleton crews of the most wretched kind and description.”

“But when night came on, the wind died away, and the skeleton crew, revived by hope, actually took to the oars, and used them to some effect.”

“Mr. [Benjamin Franklin] Tracy, the former Secretary [of the Navy], in a conversation with the present Secretary, stated that his policy with the battle ships, had he continued in office, would have been to lay them up the greater part of the year with merely skeleton crews on board, and keep them in good and efficient trim for an emergency when necessary.”

“In Building Op 750, 2 phosphorus incendiaries penetrated the roof without damage. Eighteen phosphorus incendiaries fell on Op 450 and penetrated the roof, but were extinguished by the skeleton crew without damage.”

“The internet technology team—which is partly responsible for keeping the site functioning—became "a skeleton crew," two people said.”

CEFR level