[Vocabulary] Back up threats

[kiwiNguyen]

"Stop bullying me!"
"This isn't bullying. Bullies can't back up their threats. I can."

What does back up mean here?
Thanks in advance

 

[emsr2d2]

"Stop bullying me!"
"This isn't bullying. Bullies can't back up their threats. I can."

What does back up mean here?
Thanks in advance

Here, it means to support your words with actions. Bullies are generally said to be "all mouth". They will verbally threaten people with all kinds of things - violence etc, but they rarely actually do what they say they will.

If someone says "I'm going to shoot you", but they don't have a gun, then they can't back up their threat.

 

[corum]

Do you know this one:
walk the talk? That is a link; click on it.

:up:

 

[TheParser]

"Stop bullying me!"
"This isn't bullying. Bullies can't back up their threats. I can."

What does back up mean here?
Thanks in advance

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Good morning, KiwiNguyen.

I think that "back up" in your sentence means something like:

To actually do what I threaten to do. To have the power to do it.

Sometimes a bully is all talk. S/he is actually afraid of doing what

s/he threatens or cannot do it even if s/he wanted to do it.

The person in your quotation says that his/her warning is REAL. In other

words, ACTION will follow.

Have a nice day!

 

[kiwiNguyen]

Thank all of you so much for your helpful answers, I am totally understand the phrase now!
Wish you all have nice day!:-D