paper tiger
noun
a person, group, nation, or thing that has the appearance of strength or power but is actually weak or ineffectual.
Origin of paper tiger
1First recorded in 1945–50
Words Nearby paper tiger
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for paper tiger
paper tiger
noun
a nation, institution, etc, that appears powerful but is in fact weak or insignificant
Origin of paper tiger
1C20: translation of a Chinese phrase first applied to the US
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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