They found a skeleton staff at the base, of course, and nothing else.

The firm laid off 50 people, leaving only a skeleton staff.

In the winter, a skeleton staff looks after the resources and facilities.

A skeleton staff remained on hand while 270 personnel were moved out of the building.

The hospital was unusually quiet today, running on a skeleton staff.

But in recent years, it has served few patients and maintained a skeleton staff.

"I'll keep a skeleton staff on and give the rest the afternoon off.

There was only a skeleton staff on duty and no one took much notice of him.

A skeleton staff of eight is finishing off the company's orders.

Though the city was officially open, many people had taken another day off, leaving the mayor's office with a skeleton staff.

He added that the firm's back offices were largely working with a skeleton staff.

Last night a management spokeswoman said a skeleton staff was working and would produce a newspaper.

But in Baghdad a skeleton staff of 57 was permitted to remain.

"We only had a skeleton staff on at the time, sir.

He should have insisted upon a skeleton staff, at the least."

In 2003, with a skeleton staff, it was facing closure.

Most of the plant now stands idle, though the company continues with a skeleton staff.

Most of the crew served the high watch; a skeleton staff worked middle and low watches.

Some aid agencies have pulled out and others are operating with a skeleton staff.

I'm down to just a skeleton staff on some planets."

"On Saturdays, they leave the place open for a skeleton staff.

A skeleton staff of diplomats and Marine guards will stay behind.

This time of night there's only a skeleton staff.

The trees gave protection from the wind so, in comparison to the main base, only a skeleton staff was required.

The embassy is working with only a skeleton staff.

Find out what some of the other skeleton crews think about it.

Yet only a skeleton crew was necessary to man it.

Pretty soon the restaurant was running with a skeleton crew.

But most teams are still working with a skeleton crew.

Only a skeleton crew of workers is available to maintain order.

The rest of the skeleton crew were essential as well.

It ought to get along just fine for a few hours with a skeleton crew.

Just a skeleton crew aboard, seven or eight, no more.

Whatever the reason, the base was now running on a skeleton crew, which made him one of its senior officers.

At this hour only a skeleton crew was on duty.

"This silly business of trying to go on with a skeleton crew."

We've only got a skeleton crew here to guard the prisoners.

He said, "I, for one, am willing to be on the skeleton crew involved in such an effort."

The skeleton crew now running the station would have their own briefing later.

"He was down to a skeleton crew on his ship," she said.

The skeleton crew in the Yankee office was off yesterday.

In the beginning, the skeleton crew interviewed many potential characters.

The skeleton crew was rescued before the ship went under.

But after her father's death there was not enough money to pay even the skeleton crew of servants necessary to keep the great house running.

For several minutes, he heard only the footsteps of the skeleton crew that remained on board.

Its systems were automated enough so that the four of them could run it as a skeleton crew.

Miller's place was guarded tonight by only a skeleton crew for some special reason.

This is a skeleton crew for a shake down cruise.

A skeleton crew would be left to guard the camp and the wounded.

With them they brought food in vacuum containers for the skeleton crew and the women.