What does 'The Distant Howls of a Dog' mean?
It refers to the act of weak or timid individuals speaking ill or boasting behind someone's back, in their absence.
How did this proverb originate?
It is said that the proverb originates from the observation that smaller or weaker dogs tend to bark more. Dogs that were previously barking boldly become timid in front of stronger or larger dogs, quieting down.
However, once the adversary disappears and they move to a distant location, they start barking again. Knowing they won't be chased from afar, they tend to put on a false bravado.
Note that there is a similar proverb, 'The loser's distant howl,' which has a similar meaning but is used in different contexts.
'The Distant Howls of a Dog' presupposes 'purely weak individuals or cowards' not involved in a fight or contest, whereas 'The loser's distant howl' is used for those who have fought and lost. Whether a dispute was involved or not is a key distinction between the two.
