Meanings
phrase
- idiomaticOne acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless.
Translations
Chinese Mandarin 刀子嘴豆腐心, 善吠的狗很少咬人
- 刀子嘴豆腐心 (dāozi zuǐ dòufu xīn)one acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
- 善吠的狗很少咬人 (shàn fèi-de gǒu hěn shǎo yǎo rén)one acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Czech pes, který štěká, nekouše
- pes, který štěká, nekoušeone acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Dutch Blaffende honden bijten niet
- Blaffende honden bijten nietone acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Esperanto ŝelo estas pli malbona ol via mordo
- ŝelo estas pli malbona ol via mordoone acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Finnish haukkuva koira ei pure
- haukkuva koira ei pureone acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
French chien qui aboie ne mord pas
- chien qui aboie ne mord pasone acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
German Hunde, die bellen, beißen nicht
- Hunde, die bellen, beißen nichtone acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Greek σκύλος που γαβγίζει δεν δαγκώνει, σκυλί που γαβγίζει δεν δαγκώνει
- σκύλος που γαβγίζει δεν δαγκώνει (skýlos pou gavgízei den dagkónei)one acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
- σκυλί που γαβγίζει δεν δαγκώνει (skylí pou gavgízei den dagkónei)one acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Italian cani che abbaia non morde
- cani che abbaia non mordeone acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Japanese 弱い犬ほどよく吠る
- 弱い犬ほどよく吠る (yowai inu hodo yoku hoeru)one acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Polish pies, który dużo szczeka, nie gryzie
- pies, który dużo szczeka, nie gryzieone acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Portuguese cão que ladra não morde
- cão que ladra não mordeone acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Romanian câinele care latră mult, mușcă rar
- câinele care latră mult, mușcă rarone acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Russian ла́ющая соба́ка не куса́ет
- ла́ющая соба́ка не куса́ет (lájuščaja sobáka ne kusájet)one acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Spanish perro ladrador, poco mordedor, perro que ladra no muerde
- perro ladrador, poco mordedorone acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
- perro que ladra no muerdeone acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Swahili mbwa abwekae haumi
- mbwa abwekae haumione acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless
Cite this entry
APA
one's bark is worse than one's bite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one's%20bark%20is%20worse%20than%20one's%20bite
MLA
“one's bark is worse than one's bite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one's%20bark%20is%20worse%20than%20one's%20bite. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “one's bark is worse than one's bite,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one's%20bark%20is%20worse%20than%20one's%20bite.
Source: one's bark is worse than one's bite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.