Bark is worse than his bite

Cultural  

1. This person makes a great many threats but doesn't follow through on them.

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bark is worse than his bite Idioms  

1. A person seems more hostile or aggressive than is the case, as in Dad sounds very grouchy in the morning, but his bark's worse than his bite. This phrase was a proverb by the mid-1600s.

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Example Sentences

England will be hoping that Van der Merwe's bark is worse than his bite in Pune.

From BBC • Nov. 7, 2023

First impression: I think his bark is worse than his bite.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2017

Now the message appears to be that the president’s bark is worse than his bite.

From The Guardian • May 1, 2017

British officials on the scene, less alarmed, have convinced themselves that Lee's bark is worse than his bite.

From Time Magazine Archive

I daresay his bark is worse than his bite," said the visitor, trembling; "anyway, I'm going to stay here.

From A Master Of Craft by Jacobs, W. W. (William Wymark)