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

Morocco aside, the front-footed look of the Scotland XIs on paper against Haiti and Brazil played into the self-proclaimed idea that Clarke had travelled to the US as a new man with fresh ideas.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026

Damen struggled with defence ministry demands for submissions to be on paper as well as for documentation to be in German, the paper reported in April, citing industry sources.

From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026

Anyone who bought SpaceX’s stock after the first trading day is now underwater on those purchases — at least on paper.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026

That means that anyone who bought the stock after its first day of trading has lost money — at least on paper.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 22, 2026

Why, it’s them that, not content with printin’ lies on paper an’ preachin’ them out of pulpits, does want to be cuttin’ them on the tombstones.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker