on paper

Idioms  

1. In theory, hypothetically, as in Considering casualties, on paper the Americans won the Vietnam War, or They are a good team on paper but not so in the field. This metaphoric expression contrasts something written down with concrete reality. [Late 1700s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on paper

Some of the guys are on paper hot, but if they’re not good artists, I’m like, who cares?

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026

Bijan Rouhani, a senior researcher at the Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa project, says that the legal framework may be strong on paper but in practice it almost inevitably falls short.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

Because inflation measures also don’t include all of the costs that households face, many people might feel even further behind than they are on paper.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Meanwhile, it’s also possible people in some jobs use AI much less than it would seem on paper.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026

I don’t want to put my thoughts down on paper.

From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell