show one's claws

Verb

To demonstrate one's ability to hurt another. / Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see show, claw.

Japanese Meaning

自分が他者に危害を加える能力を誇示すること / 攻撃能力や脅威を見せる、威嚇する行為

In politics, to survive you occasionally have to show one's claws.

政治の世界では、生き残るために時には牙をむく必要がある。

Sense（1）

To demonstrate one's ability to hurt another.

In this event he really showed his claws by winning ten games, drawing four while losing four.

Sense（2）

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see show, claw.

shows one's claws

（ present singular third-person ）

showing one's claws

（ participle present ）

showed one's claws

（ past ）

shown one's claws

（ participle past ）