rattle sabers

To make aggressive, blustering, and typically empty threats. I'd like to think that the country's threats of nuclear extermination are just them rattling sabers, but I'm not too sure anymore. The boss just likes to rattle sabers every now and then to make herself feel powerful.

rattle sabres

threaten to take aggressive action.

See also: rattle, sabre

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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References in periodicals archive

Of temperamental Elizabeth Taylor rattling sabres at her prima unomo, twice husband, Richard Burton, immortalised in the films of Taming of the Shrew and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf which carried on off-screen in a manner which gave nervous producers heart attacks.

Still diva after all these years

Nick has been rattling sabres and beating his own drum.

Golf: TORRANCE CUTS THE RYDER VICE; Sam acts in bid to end James' war of words

Then there is defence secretary George Robertson, rattling sabres louder than the sound of his own voice.

EUROPE AT WAR: TROOP BUILD-UP: AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW BY OUR CHIEF POLITICAL COMMENTATOR

"This is not just defence ministers rattling sabres - it is time for Belgrade to get the message that Nato means business.

BRIT BOMBERS TURN UP HEAT ON SERB WARLORDS; DEMAND FOR PEACE: ROBERTSON'S WARNING TO MILOSEVIC

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