Idle threat

Empty threat


Minaccia a vuoto


Meanings
Making a threat that most likely will not be followed up

Examples
If I were you I would take him seriously because he's concrete and he doesn't make idle threats
Fossi in te lo prenderei sul serio, perché non fa mai minacce a vuoto

I believe that making idle threats really undermines the authority of those who make them
Sono convinto che fare minacce a vuoto danneggi e sminuisca l'autorità di chi le fa

You'd better believe me: I never make empty threats!
Farai meglio a credermi: non faccio mai minacce a vuoto, io!