chocolate soldier
Sweet edible statuette
A chocolate soldier is someone who looks impressive but lacks real courage or substance when tested—all show and no fight.
The term comes from a figure made of chocolate shaped like a soldier, which would melt under any heat.
It gained currency from George Bernard Shaw's play *Arms and the Man* and the operetta based on it.
He talks tough in meetings but he's a chocolate soldier when it comes to actual confrontation.
Seeming strength, actual weakness
- blustererLoud empty threatener
- braggartOne who flaunts achievements
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
- pretenderIllegitimate claimant to power
shirker · faintheart · milksop · yellowbelly · bluffer · armchair general · all talk · swagger
British-origin family name
- satireMockery exposing vice
- antiwarOpposed to armed conflict
- romanceLove and its excitement
- ViennaAustrian capital
operetta · musical · libretto · Broadway · West End · romantic comedy · military satire
Following behind something
- terrariumGlass-walled growing enclosure
- African violetCompact flowering houseplant
- red flowersBlooms of scarlet hue
- indoor plantVegetation grown inside
hanging basket · tropical · humidity · shade plant · propagation · runner · rosette · variegated
paper tiger
Seeming strength, actual weakness
- blustererLoud empty threatener
- braggartOne who flaunts achievements
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
pretender · shirker · faintheart · milksop · yellowbelly · bluffer · armchair general · all talk · swagger · façade
Shaw
British-origin family name
Vienna · operetta · musical · libretto · Broadway · West End · romantic comedy · military satire
trailing
Following behind something
- terrariumGlass-walled growing enclosure
- African violetCompact flowering houseplant
- red flowersBlooms of scarlet hue
indoor plant · hanging basket · tropical · humidity · shade plant · propagation · runner · rosette · variegated · windowsill
- Kalanchoesflapjack, donkey ears
- gesneriadsAfrican violet, gloxinia, goldfish plant, diastema
chocolate soldiercombat veteran
Person with battlefield experience
war hero · old soldier · grunt · infantry veteran · man of action
chocolate soldiergenuine article
Authentic original item
tried and tested · battle-tested · hard man · real McCoy · tough customer
chocolate, soldier, chocolates, chocolatey, chocolatier, soldiers, soldiery, soldiering, soldiered