show one's claws
verbEtymology
From the way a feline will extend its claws when attacking, as opposed to leaving them retracted so that they do not show.
Definitions
To demonstrate one's ability to hurt another.
- In this event he really showed his claws by winning ten games, drawing four while losing four.
- But when Louis showed his claws, Lothar knew he meant business.
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see show, claw.
The neighborhood
Vish — recursive loop
No curated loop yet for show one's claws. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA