push paper

Idioms  

1. Do administrative, often petty, paperwork. For example, She spent the whole day pushing paper for her boss. [Colloquial; second half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

He hasn’t ruled out a return to coaching as an assistant if he “found a job where I could actually coach and not push paper all day.”

From Seattle Times

Glover plays Earn, an aspiring rap manager whose cousin has a song and a dream; Earn’s attempts to push “Paper Boi” to stardom, and himself to stardom-adjacent comfort, run up against the wall of reality.

From Time

“We push paper,” said Dr. R. “We hire more and more administrative people to handle claim forms and other administrivia which is endless. We get paid a little nothing from many insurance companies. We see more and more patients and spend less and less time with each of them. Plus we’re always vulnerable to lawsuits, and get little respect.”

From Forbes

This reminds them that their job is not to simply push paper, but to help make the company profitable.

From Inc

Standers have various reasons for taking to their feet: it makes them feel more focused, prevents drowsiness, makes them feel like a general even if they just push paper.

From Washington Post