paper tiger
a person, an organisation, a country which makes a show of strength, but is in fact weak
TRANSLATION
paper tiger: Papiertiger
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
"EUROPEAN METRICATION LAW - A PAPER TIGER? While Trading Standards Officers and the Department of Trade & Industry are wondering whether they dare to prosecute honest traders for selling their goods in imperial measures the latest opinion poll will reduce their confidence even further."
(Press Release, British Weights and Measures Association, 9th February 2000)
(Press Release, British Weights and Measures Association, 9th February 2000)
Did you
know?
Did you know?
Paper tiger is the symbolic term for an entity which puts on an outward show of strength or aggression, but has no power to back up any threat with action.
It was first used by Chairman Mao in 1946, when he said to American newspaperwoman, "All reactionaries are paper tigers. In appearance, the reactionaries are terrifying, but in reality they are not powerful."
Paper tiger is the symbolic term for an entity which puts on an outward show of strength or aggression, but has no power to back up any threat with action.
It was first used by Chairman Mao in 1946, when he said to American newspaperwoman, "All reactionaries are paper tigers. In appearance, the reactionaries are terrifying, but in reality they are not powerful."
