Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus./US) to frighten, to intimidate; to be cheeky.

1859		Matsell Vocabulum 51: Lion Be saucy; lion the fellow; make a loud noise; substitute noise for good sense; frighten; bluff.
1894		J. Astley Fifty Years (2nd edn) I 122: We used to [...] stroll about and lionise the place till food was ready .
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 45: Lion, to frighten or bluff.
1941		Baker Popular Dict. Aus. Sl.