Idioms near to the bone or close to the bone?

[asterix]

Hi everybody,

Is there anyone who could tell me the right answer to that question:

Although the TV programme was funny, my aunt was a bit shocked because some of the jokes were a bit ......... the bone.

(a) next
(b) close
(c) near

In fact the right answer on the test it's near(C)but I have looked up on a dictionary the Oxford one and found out that the answer is close to the bone.
close to the bone (BrE, informal) (of a remark, joke, story, etc.) so honest or clearly expressed that it is likely to cause offence to some people
Is this a mistake from your test or am I wrong?

thank you for your answer

[Guest]

.
Both near the bone and close to the bone are acceptable variants of this idiom. Please notice, however, that the test question sentence does not include to; therefore, close does not fit the structure.
.

[Alan]

Hi whoever you are!

Thanks for that.

Alan
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