rattle (one's) saber

rattle (one's) saber

To make aggressive, blustering, typically empty threats. I'd like to think that his threats are just him rattling his saber, but I'm not too sure anymore. The boss just likes to rattle her saber every now and then to make herself feel powerful.

See also: rattle, saber

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

rattle one's saber

 and rattle its saber

Fig. to make threatening statements or actions. The president is just rattling his saber. He would never attack such a small country!

See also: rattle, saber

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