paper tiger
noun
a person, group, nation, or thing that has the appearance of strength or power but is actually weak or ineffectual.
Nearby words
paper mulberry, paper nautilus, paper over, paper profit, paper tape, paper tiger, paper trail, paper wasp, paper-clip, paper-cutter, paper-mâché
Origin of paper tiger
First recorded in 1945–50
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for paper tiger
paper tiger
noun
a nation, institution, etc, that appears powerful but is in fact weak or insignificant
Word Origin for paper tiger
C20: translation of a Chinese phrase first applied to the US
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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