Dogs bark before they bite.

A threatening display can be an early warning of more serious action. The proverb urges people not to dismiss an initial sign of aggression merely because no harm has occurred yet.

Applied to human behavior, it suggests that hostile words or gestures may precede a direct confrontation. It does not mean that every threat will be carried out.

Use it to advise someone to take an aggressive warning seriously before a confrontation escalates. It fits situations where a person's words or behavior suggest that further action may follow.