James Baquet

Today’s expression, “A barking dog seldom bites,” is of Latin origin.

It means that a person who threatens loudly is not very likely to actually hurt you.

Let’s see an example.

James sees his student, a boy named Edwin, on campus.

James: Big Ed! What’s shakin’?

Edwin: Oh, I’m in deep doodoo.

James: What’s wrong? Girl troubles?

Edwin: Worse: my psych prof just told me that I’m on the verge of failing.

James: Really? I thought you were a sort of Poindexter.

Edwin: Nice. I may be, but the professor and I had an argument in class, and it got kind of heated, and he said, “If you can’t understand a simple point like this, how can you expect to pass my class?”

James: Hold on a tick: this was during a row?

Edwin: Yeah…

James: Don’t sweat it, Edwin. He was just blowing off steam. Don’t you know? “A barking dog seldom bites.”

Edwin: I don’t know. It was getting pretty ugly when the period ended.

James: Literally “saved by the bell,” huh? Anyway, off the record, I know your prof, and he’s not the kind to walk around with a chip on his shoulder. He knows it takes two to tango.

Edwin: I hope you’re right. I need this class.

James: I understand. Take it easy.

Edwin: Thanks, James.

Notes on the dialogue:

— What’s shakin’?: Like “What’s happening,” a very casual greeting.

— To be in deep doodoo: To be in big trouble; “doodoo”here is a child’s word for excrement.

— Girl troubles: Problems in a romantic relationship.

— Psych prof: Psychology professor.

— To be on the verge of something: For something to be about to happen.

— A Poindexter: One who studies a lot; similar to “nerd” and “geek.”

— A heated argument: The opposite of a civil discussion; “heat” indicates anger.

— Hold on a tick: Wait a second (like one tick of the clock).

— Don’t sweat it: Don’t worry about it.

— To blow off steam: To let out one’s anger or frustration.

— To get ugly: To become extremely unpleasant.

— Saved by the bell: This is an idiom from boxing, where a boxer who is being beaten by his opponent gets a break when the bell rings at the end of the round. Here, James makes a joke, because the argument between Edwin and the professor ended when the class bell rang.

— Off the record: Describes something said in confidence that the one speaking doesn’t want attributed to him or her.

— To have a chip on one’s shoulder: To bear a grudge, to remain upset about something.

— It takes two to tango: When two people have a problem, both should take responsibility.