"put flesh on the anecdotal bones?

Question

What does it mean by "put flesh on the anecdotal bones" ? does it have a story about it??

note: according the following sentences.

Everyone has heard stories of overworked, stressed-out nurses, but a new Statistics Canada study has put flesh on the anecdotal bones, confirming many of the complaints.

Answer 1

what it means is - to give substance to a theory - to give evidence where before there was only hearsay. It's confirmation of something.

I have no idea where it came from - but thank you - I really like it.