無む駄だ吠ぼえ

noun

barking at nothing; barking at passers-by or visitors

Describes a dog barking without a clear threat, often at strangers or trivial stimuli. Can be used literally or figuratively for pointless complaining.

• 隣となりの犬いぬの無む駄だ吠ぼえがうるさい。

  The neighbor's dog's barking at nothing is noisy.

• 彼かれの批ひ判はんは単たんなる無む駄だ吠ぼえだ。

  His criticism is just pointless barking.