# one's bark is worse than one's bite

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/ones-bark-is-worse-than-ones-bite
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

One acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless.

## Examples

- Don't worry about him; his bark is worse than his bite.
- My boss yells when he is stressed, but his bark is worse than his bite and he is actually very kind.
- Although the professor seemed intimidating and prone to sharp criticism, his students eventually learned that his bark was worse than his bite.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.