paper tiger
Meanings
noun
- Something or someone that appears powerful, strong or threatening but is in reality weak, ineffective, or unable to withstand challenge.
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
A calque from Chinese 紙老虎／纸老虎 (zhǐlǎohǔ), a phrase popularized by Mao Zedong, but of pre-modern origin. An English translation first appeared in an book in 1828 by British missionary and lexicographer Robert Morrison.
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Related words
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