paper-tiger

noun

a person, group, nation, or thing that has the appearance of strength or power but is actually weak or ineffectual.

Origin:
1945–50

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source

Collins

World English Dictionary

paper tiger

—n
	a nation, institution, etc, that appears powerful but is in fact weak or insignificant

[C20: translation of a Chinese phrase first applied to the US]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Relevant Questions

What Is Paper Tiger?

What Def Paper Tigers?

What Is Paper Tiger?

What Def Paper Tigers?

00:10

Paper-tiger is always a great word to know.

So is ort. Does it mean:

a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Matching Quote

"All the reputedly powerful reactionaries are merely paper tigers. The reason is that they are divorced from the people. Look! Was not Hitler a paper tiger? Was Hitler not overthrown?... U.S. imperialism has not yet been overthrown and it has the atomic bomb. I believe it also will be overthrown. It, too, is a paper tiger."

-Mao Zedong

Remove ads like these. Upgrade now!

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Sendori Home Advisor

About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help