Paper Tiger (yacht) definition

Paper Tiger (yacht)

Topics Paper Tiger (yacht) Definition

WordNet

(1) 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"

WiktionaryText

A calque of Chinese 纸老虎 (simplified) / 紙老虎 (traditional) / zhǐ lǎohǔ (pinyin)

A seemingly fierce person or thing without the ability to back up their words.

Although William threatened us, we weren't afraid of that paper tiger.

He was a paper tiger, all bark and no bite.