負まけ犬いぬの遠とお吠ぼえ

expression, noun

backbiting of a coward; grumblings of a loser

Idiomatic expression describing someone who, after losing or retreating, complains or criticizes from a safe distance. The literal image is 'the distant bark of a defeated dog'.

• 彼かれの陰かげ口ぐちはまさに負まけ犬いぬの遠とお吠ぼえだ。

  His backbiting is nothing but the grumblings of a loser.

• 負まけ犬いぬの遠とお吠ぼえに耳みみを貸かす必ひつ要ようはない。

  There's no need to listen to the coward's distant barking.