rattle sabres

rattle sabers

To make aggressive, blustering, and typically empty threats. I'd like to think that the country's threats of nuclear extermination are just them rattling sabers, but I'm not too sure anymore. The boss just likes to rattle sabers every now and then to make herself feel powerful.
See also: rattle, saber
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

rattle sabres

threaten to take aggressive action.
See also: rattle, sabre
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • rattle sabers
  • saber
  • sabre
  • rattle (one's) saber
  • rattle saber
  • empty threat
  • put the fear of God in
  • put the fear of God in someone
  • put the fear of God into
  • put the fear of God into somebody
References in periodicals archive
While others rattle sabres, Omanis sit down to talk.
Oman -- a safe haven in a fragile world
Still, while warmongers rattle sabres, it's probably worth the effort to revisit a story of renewal and forgiveness, whether or not you're a believer.
Peace at Easter? It'll be a choc to the system
Not till Pakistan or China rattle sabres, we as 1.22 billion people don't spare a thought for the armed forces.
Modi move puts him on 'defensive'
I believe it's jingoistic to rattle sabres from the comfort of one's warm and cozy home.
LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG
Egypt's ageing generals often rattle sabres at their traditional enemy, Israel, but have used the idle decades to carve out an empire at home.
The generals guard their economic empire: Egypt's military leaders are not about to let democracy get in the way of their business interests. Cam McGrath reports from Cairo
It always puts us on guard when politicians rattle sabres.
We've been here before
The U.S.-led coalition forces have yet to provide a secure environment--in either Iraq or Afghanistan--and President George Bush continues to rattle sabres at Iran and North Korea, the two remaining hostile regimes on his axis-of-evil list.
CDS Henault needs to trim the fat in CF