If you cannot bite, never show your teeth.

An intimidating display has little value if the person making it cannot act. The proverb warns against presenting a threat as though it were a real source of power.

It also favors restraint over bluffing: showing hostility without the means to follow through may invite a confrontation that would have been better avoided.

Use it to advise someone against making a threat or putting on an aggressive show when they lack the ability or willingness to follow through. It can also serve as a warning to think through the consequences before trying to intimidate someone.