one’s bark is worse than one’s bite

(idiom) someone is not as tough or strong as they seem

Example Sentences:

A: That guy just challenged me to a fight!
B: Don’t worry, his bark is worse than his bite. He would never get into a fight!
A: Okay.

When I started my new job, my boss was always threatening to fire me. After a few weeks, I realized that her bark was worse than her bite, and that she would never fire me.

Media:

Similar idioms:

1. fight fire with fire
2. out of the frying pan and into the fire
3. grab a bite
4. if worse comes to worse
5. get along like a house on fire
6. bite off more than one can chew
7. bite me
8. bite the hand that feeds one
9. call one’s dogs off
10. bite one’s tongue
11. grab a bite to eat