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

Detailed minefield plans would then have to be drawn up, on paper and via a smartphone app which is in development.

From Barron's

Most of them were too easy to even bother working out on paper, but he showed all the steps because Mr. Grayson liked it when he showed his work, and Bat liked Mr. Grayson.

From Literature

“There’s a lot of guys that you may look at their height, weight, speed and it may not pop off the paper, but football isn’t played on paper.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Elon Musk just created what on paper is a trillion dollar company.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I think on paper it is the best team we have had."

From BBC