never make a threat you cannot carry out

never make a threat you cannot carry out

Don't threaten to do something or punish someone unless you are both willing and able to do it. A: "If they keep grumbling like that, I'll just tell them that their pay will start getting docked." B: "Careful, Jim. You know that half the staff would walk out if you did that, and they know that too. Never make a threat you can't carry out."

See also: cannot, carry, make, never, out, threat

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

Never make a threat you cannot carry out.

Prov. You should not threaten to do something you cannot do; otherwise, people will not believe you are serious when you threaten. Bill: If you don't stop being rude to me, I'll have you fired! Jane: You're not my boss. Never make a threat you cannot carry out.

See also: cannot, carry, make, never, out, threat

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.