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one's bark is worse than one's bite

British pronunciation/wˈɒnz bˈɑːk ɪz wˈɜːs ðɐn wˈɒnz bˈaɪt/
American pronunciation/wˈʌnz bˈɑːɹk ɪz wˈɜːs ðɐn wˈʌnz bˈaɪt/
one's bark is worse than one's bite
[SENTENCE]
1

used for saying that someone may appear threatening or aggressive, but their actions or behavior are not as harmful or severe as their words

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{one's} bark [is] worse than {one's} bite definition and meaning

What is the origin of the idiom "one's bark is worse than one's bite" and when to use it?

The phrase "one's bark is worse than one's bite" is an idiom that means someone's aggressive or threatening behavior or words are more intimidating than their actual actions. The idiom implies that the person's bark, referring to their vocal or verbal expressions, is more fearsome than their bite, which signifies their actual physical or impactful actions. This expression is commonly used to caution others not to be overly intimidated by someone's tough talk or bluster, as their actions may not match their aggressive rhetoric.

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