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paper gold

American  

noun

Informal.
  1. special drawing rights.


Etymology

Origin of paper gold

First recorded in 1965–70

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.

He reminds us of the many materials from which money has been fashioned—seed, silver, paper, gold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Sure, there are folks who have managed to humiliate themselves with the toilet paper gold rush and mask hoarding, defiant barhopping and denial.

From Washington Post • Mar. 16, 2020

On paper, gold may have hit a two-year low, but in the physical market sellers are reporting rampant demand.

From The Guardian • Apr. 20, 2013

Economists generally agree that the new currency with which nations pay their debts to each other should be the International Monetary Fund's Special Drawing Rights, or paper gold.

From Time Magazine Archive

What is particularly hard for him to understand is the idea that it is immaterial whether the voucher for labor performance be a piece of paper, gold or tin.

From Woman under socialism by De Leon, Daniel