idle threat

American  

[ahy-duhl thret] / ˈaɪ dəl ˈθrɛt /

noun

idle threats plural

1. a threat that is not likely to be carried out, usually because the person who made it does not really mean it.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• idle threats
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

idle threat

Since California is a state where direct democracy is a way of life, this is no idle threat.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 27, 2019

And even if his latest is merely an idle threat, it serves the same purpose.

From Salon ● Apr. 2, 2019

The State Department has made clear it was not just an idle threat.

From Slate ● Mar. 30, 2019

Rather than treating that as an idle threat, the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2018

Apparently I’d frightened him with my idle threat earlier.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss