paper tiger -
1Paper tiger — is a literal English translation of the Chinese phrase zhǐ lǎohǔ (zh ts|t=紙老虎|s=紙老虎), meaning something which seems as threatening as a tiger, but is really harmless.The phrase is an ancient one in Chinese, but sources differ as to when it… …
2paper tiger — Paper Pa per (p[=a] p[ e]r), n. [F. papier, fr. L. papyrus papyrus, from which the Egyptians made a kind of paper, Gr. pa pyros. Cf. {Papyrus}.] 1. A substance in the form of thin sheets or leaves intended to be written or printed on, or to be… …
3paper tiger — A paper tiger is a person, country, institution, etc, that looks powerful, but is actually weak …
4paper tiger — paper tigers N COUNT If you say that an institution, a country, or a person is a paper tiger, you mean that although they seem powerful they do not really have any power …
5paper tiger — n an enemy or opponent who seems powerful but actually is not …
6paper tiger — noun count a person, organization, or country that appears to be very powerful or dangerous but in fact is weak …
7paper tiger — ► NOUN ▪ a person or thing that appears threatening but is ineffectual …
8paper tiger — ☆ paper tiger n. a person, nation, etc. that seems to pose a threat but is actually ineffective or powerless …
9paper tiger — noun the nature of a person or organization that appears powerful but is actually powerless and ineffectual he reminded Mao that the paper tiger had nuclear teeth • Hypernyms: ↑powerlessness, ↑impotence, ↑impotency * * * noun, pl ⋯ gers [count] …
10paper tiger — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms paper tiger : singular paper tiger plural paper tigers a person, organization, or country that appears to be very powerful or dangerous but in fact is weak …
