gentle giant

American  

[jen-tl jahy-uhnt] / ˈdʒɛn tl ˈdʒaɪ ənt /

noun

1. a person or animal that may seem intimidating because of great size, strength, talent, influence, etc., but is surprisingly friendly and not aggressive or threatening.

   Don’t be afraid of my huge dog—St. Bernards are gentle giants.

   A towering figure among scientists, she was a gentle giant who made others feel at home as they learned the profession.

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Etymology

Origin of gentle giant

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Handsome, charming, a "gentle giant" - Katie Yates believed Jason Smith was a real catch after meeting on a dating app.

From BBC

"He seemed so warm and friendly - like a gentle giant," Katie said.

From BBC

It was my ploy to keep alive our 6-foot-5 “gentle giant,” as we called him, and return to him once he was gone.

From The Wall Street Journal

"He's a gentle giant. It's Mal's world and we're all just living in it."

From BBC

Even bloodied and beaten, sitting in the waiting room at his doctor’s office, Mark is a gentle giant, concisely explaining the sport to an older woman sitting across from him, and scribbling his signature onto a paper for her grandson.

From Salon