show one's claws
The idiom "show one's claws" originates from the behavior of felines, which extend their claws when they feel threatened or need to defend themselves.
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Definition
C1General
(idiomatic, informal)To reveal an aggressive or assertive side, often after being polite or submissive.
Example
- After months of being quiet in meetings, she finally showed her claws and challenged the proposal.
- He usually stays calm, but he showed his claws when they tried to take credit for his work.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "show one's claws":
get one's claws outbare one's teethshow oneselfclaw offrear one's headbare one's breastshow offbreast one's cardsflex one's musclesshow some skinput up one's dukesshow who's bossshow the flagshow outbeat one's chestspit feathersexpose oneselfcome to blowswhip outtip one's handchest one's cardsshowing offlash out