Bark is Worse Than One’s Bite - Idiom of the Day for IELTS Speaking & Writing

Using an idiom like ‘Bark is Worse Than One’s Bite’ allows you to demonstrate the natural usage of the English language. Such idiomatic phrases can help you in providing vivid detail and put forward a strong argument in your IELTS Speaking and Writing answers. With the right strategy, learning and using this idiom in your answers would elevate your performance.

To reach a Band 8+ in the IELTS Exam, you need to demonstrate a flexible command of vocabulary. This becomes particularly advantageous when you’re depicting people or attitudes, since a well-chosen idiom can showcase your grasping ability of the English language. 

What is the Meaning of the Idiom ‘Bark is Worse Than One’s Bite’?

Even though expanding your IELTS Vocabulary is crucial, knowing when to use them precisely in sentences is far more important. To do that, you need to dig deeper into the idiom’s meaning, its synonyms, its common collocations, and a few examples so that you can use them while practising the speaking or writing section. 

The table below shows the important aspects, such as meaning, common collocations, synonyms, and example sentences, which would guide you to understand the idiom ‘Bark is Worse Than One’s Bite’.

How to Use the Idiom ‘Bark is Worse Than One’s Bite’ in IELTS Speaking & Writing?

While expanding your vocabulary is crucial, you must first understand how to learn these idioms so that you can incorporate them into your preparation. Mastering the English language would help you to ace the IELTS speaking & writing test. Let’s look at the tricks which can help you to know how to apply the idiom ‘Bark Is Worse Than One’s Bite’ into different sentences.

• Paying attention to the context of the sentence plays an important role. This will help you to go through the various sentences with which these idioms can be linked since each has its own context. 
• Try not to use the same idiom multiple times as it will risk sounding  robotic without any fluency in your speech for the IELTS Speaking section. Therefore, make sure you understand how to seamlessly use the idiom in your sentences as you speak.
• Since there are different types of idioms which you might learn on a regular basis, it is suggested to use a flashcard to get familiar with each of their meanings. This will help in recalling them easily.
• To be aware of how to use these idioms in sentences and score more in the IELTS Writing section, you can apply the idiom in other sentences. This will increase your understanding of how to put them in appropriate places.
• Record yourself when practicing an idiom for the speaking section and then replay it to check for any stumbling blocks. This technique will also provide you with clear feedback on any improvement or shortfall areas so that you can work towards it.
• When you use the idiom, make sure that there is no break in the logical flow of ideas. Do not force yourself to use the idiom since that can affect the arrangement of ideas.
• As you start to incorporate the idiom into your preparation, you must practice using it in sentences. In this way, you get to know how to use the knowledge of IELTS Grammar effectively.

Check out the video to learn the top IELTS Speaking Idioms for Band 9.

Exercises for the Idiom ‘Bark is Worse Than One’s Bite’

1 Even though the task looks quite difficult, we need to _______________________ to get it done on time.

1. let the cat out of the bag

2. bite the bullet

3. bark is worse than your bite

4. pull someone’s leg

2 Don’t  _______________________ and focus on the future.

1. bark up the wrong tree

2. spill the beans

3. bite off more than you can chew

4. cry over spilled milk

3 We thought that the teacher would be strict but she turns out to be very kind. She  _______________________ .

1. bark is worse than her bite

2. bite the bullet

3. cry over spilled milk

4. hit the sack

4 My brother has always been _______________________.

1. hit the nail on the head

2. barking up the wrong tree

3. pulling my leg

4. giving me the cold shoulder

Kenny: I finally spoke to the new team leader today. He seems quite intense.

Alex: Oh really? But I’ve spoken to him before and trust me, his 1 _______________________. He is actually quite friendly once you get to know him.

Kenny: Well, that’s a relief. I have been so nervous that I almost skipped today’s meeting. But I realized that I had to 2 _______________________ and just face it.

Alex: It’s like you try to avoid things but they get worse. I feel it’s a good thing that you didn’t accidentally 3 _______________________  about the surprise presentation, did you?

Kenny: Not at all! I was super careful not to mention it. I didn’t want to be the person who 4 _______________________ and ruins the entire plan.

Describe an elderly person that you really admire. Try to use this idiom in your speech. You should say:
– Who he or she is
– When you met him or her at the first time
– What he or she looks like
And explain why you admire him or her

Answer to the Exercise for the Idiom ‘Bark Is Worse Than One’s Bite’

Awesome job! Was it easy? Well, let’s look at the right answers and see if you were correct. However, critically analyze the reason why you might have been wrong and where you went wrong. With consistent practice, you will hone those speaking & writing skills while building confidence.

EXERCISE 1: 

EXERCISE 2: 

Developing familiarity with different types of idioms like this one, ‘Bark is Worse Than One’s Bite’, would enhance your ability to understand how to use them in sentences. With a clear grasp of such idiomatic expressions, you would improve on your lexical resources for the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections. Therefore, continue the practice and learn the strategic usage of the idioms to get your desired band scores.

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Also Check: 

• Five Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary
• 1200 Common Words in IELTS Listening
• IELTS Vocabulary Words List for Band 8 or 9
• How to Build Vocabulary for the IELTS Exam: Practical Tips
• IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+