somebody’s bark is worse than their bite

US /ˈsʌm.bə.diz bɑːrk ɪz wɜːrs ðæn ðer baɪt/
UK /ˈsʌm.bə.diz bɑːrk ɪz wɜːrs ðæn ðer baɪt/
"somebody’s bark is worse than their bite" picture
1.

used to say that someone is not as unpleasant as they seem or as their words suggest

:
Don't worry about the boss, his bark is worse than his bite.
My grandmother seems strict, but her bark is worse than her bite.