bark

someone's bark is worse than their bite

if someone's bark is worse than their bite, they are not as unpleasant as they seem, and their actions are not as bad as their threats. I wouldn't be scared of her if I were you. Her bark's a lot worse than her bite.

See also: bite, worse

be barking mad (British & Australian, old-fashioned)

to be crazy. You went swimming in the sea in the middle of winter? You must be barking mad!

See also: mad

be barking up the wrong tree (informal)

to be wrong about the reason for something or the way to achieve something. New evidence suggests that we have been barking up the wrong tree in our search for a cure.

See also: tree, wrong

Why keep a dog and bark yourself? (British & Australian)

something that you say which means there is no purpose in doing something yourself when there is someone else who will do it for you. Just leave the glasses on the table - the bar staff will collect them. After all, why keep a dog and bark yourself?

See also: dog, keep, why

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barking up the wrong tree

believing the wrong explanation for something. He had nothing to do with the robbery — the cops are really barking up the wrong tree this time.

See also: tree, wrong

someone/something has more bark than bite

something is not as unpleasant as you expected. The storm turned out to have far more bark than bite. My boss sounds tough, but her bark is much worse than her bite, and she's actually pretty easy to work for once you get to know her.

See also: bite, has, more