ProverbWisdom
German origin
German originEs wird nicht so heiß gegessen, wie es gekocht wird
Meaning: Things usually turn out less severe than they first seem.
Literally: Things are not eaten as hot as they are cooked
Example: “Der Chef droht mit Kündigungen, aber es wird nicht so heiß gegessen, wie es gekocht wird.” — The boss is threatening layoffs, but his bark is worse than his bite.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, and 2 more languages
English: There are more threatened than struck.
French: Il y a plus de peur que de mal (literally: There is more fear than harm)
Spanish: Más son los amenazados que los heridos (literally: The threatened outnumber the wounded)
Japanese: 案ずるより産むが易し (Anzuru yori umu ga yasushi) (literally: Giving birth is easier than worrying about it)
Italian: Il diavolo non è così brutto come lo si dipinge (literally: The devil isn't as ugly as he's painted)
Russian: Не так страшен чёрт, как его малюют (Ne tak strashen chyort, kak ego malyuyut) (literally: The devil isn't as scary as he's painted)
Polish: Nie taki diabeł straszny, jak go malują (literally: The devil isn't as scary as he's painted)
Origin: Food comes off the stove scalding but has cooled by the time it is eaten; threats and bad news tend to cool the same way.
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