Synonyms

on paper

Idioms

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]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

on paper

The UN court case and ASEAN's diplomatic dilemma are separate issues on paper.

From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2026

The index fell between September and November last year, at least on paper, and anything measured against a sunken floor looks tall.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2026

Putting a plan on paper is one thing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026

He agreed that on paper the PHP vulnerabilities were very serious and should be taken seriously, but he and many others are frustrated with the misinformation about hackers being on the loose.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

Sometimes it helped to have things on paper.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023