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"Paper tiger" is a calque of the Chinese phrase zhǐlǎohǔ (simplified Chinese: 纸老虎; traditional Chinese: 紙老虎). The term refers to something or someone that claims or appears to be powerful or threatening but is actually ineffectual and unable to withstand challenge.
14 de abr. de 2024 · The meaning of PAPER TIGER is one that is outwardly powerful or dangerous but inwardly weak or ineffectual. How to use paper tiger in a sentence.
PAPER TIGER definition: 1. something, such as an enemy or foreign country, that seems very strong and dangerous but is…. Learn more.
A paper tiger is someone who at first glance seems to be in charge but who, on closer examination, is completely powerless. A paper tiger gives the impression of being powerful — perhaps he is a king or a high school principal — but lacks any real power.
Hace 4 días · Definition of 'paper tiger' Word Frequency. paper tiger. Word forms: plural paper tigers. countable noun. 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. Sometimes if you actually confront a situation it turns out to be a paper tiger.
24 de ene. de 2021 · The phrase paper tiger denotes a person, country, etc., that appears powerful or threatening but is actually weak or ineffective. This phrase is modelled on Chinese zhǐlǎohǔ, from zhǐ, paper, and lǎohǔ, tiger. These are the earliest occurrences of the phrase paper tiger that I have found, in chronological order:
Paper tiger definition: a person, group, nation, or thing that has the appearance of strength or power but is actually weak or ineffectual.. See examples of PAPER TIGER used in a sentence.
