paper trail

American  

noun

1. a written or printed record, as of transactions or judicial opinions, especially when used to incriminate someone.

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Etymology

Origin of paper trail

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

You have a paper trail leading to a six-figure hole in your aunt’s account, an account that your aunt’s attorney has access to.

From MarketWatch

“What we want to do is make a really clear documentation paper trail all the way through,” said partner Mark Segrist.

From The Wall Street Journal

In other words, there should be a paper trail if/when you are audited.

From MarketWatch

Christie’s specialist Giada Damen, who spent months retracing its paper trail and showing it to Michelangelo experts, said this foot wound up with a Swiss diplomat whose family held onto it for generations.

From The Wall Street Journal

As your story illustrates, the paper trail should be followed meticulously, particularly if there are notable gaps in the paper trail itself.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• argument
• clue
• confirmation
• criterion
• data
• demonstration
• information
• picture
• reason
• testament
• testimony
• validation
• verification