What does the phrase paper tiger mean?

What does the phrase paper tiger mean?

What does the phrase paper tiger mean?

: one that is outwardly powerful or dangerous but inwardly weak or ineffectual.

What is an example of a paper tiger?

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.

Is paper tiger an idiom?

A paper tiger is something that seems menacing but when challenged, is weak and ineffectual. The term paper tiger is a Chinese idiom, zhǐlǎohǔ. This idiom was popularized in the Western world with the translation of The Little Red Book in 1964, a book of quotations of Chairman Mao Zedong.

How do you use paper tiger in a sentence?

the nature of a person or organization that appears powerful but is actually powerless and ineffectual.

  1. The Soviet Union was suddenly revealed as a paper tiger.
  2. But it remains difficult to see how the paper tiger can avoid being shredded over the next two or three years.

Where does the phrase paper tiger come from?

This phrase comes from an old Chinese idiom, which describes a paper tiger as a “blustering, harmless fellow,” and which was popularized when Mao Zedong was quoted in 1956 calling the United States a paper tiger.

Who coined the term tiger?

Use. Mao Zedong first introduced his idea of paper tigers to Americans in an August 1946 interview with American journalist Anna Louise Strong: The atom bomb is a paper tiger which the U.S. reactionaries use to scare people.

How long is Bill Burr Tiger?

1h 7m
Paper Tiger/Running time

Who called the US a paper tiger?

In a 1956 interview with Strong, Mao used the phrase “paper tiger” to describe American imperialism again: In appearance it is very powerful but in reality it is nothing to be afraid of; it is a paper tiger. Outwardly a tiger, it is made of paper, unable to withstand the wind and the rain.

What does Paper Tiger mean and its origin?

“Paper tiger” is a literal English translation of the Chinese phrase zhilaohu (纸老虎/紙老虎). The term refers to something that seems threatening but is ineffectual and unable to withstand challenge .

What is meant by the term paper tiger?

Paper tiger. Paper tiger is a literal English translation of the Chinese phrase zhǐlǎohǔ, meaning something that seems as threatening as a tiger, but does not withstand challenge.

What does “Tiger paper” mean?

The paper tiger is something that looks threatening, but in actuality is merely made of paper; thus it can be destroyed or combated. The term “paper tiger” was famously used by Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong to describe the imperialist actions of the US.

What is another word for Paper Tiger?

Synonyms for paper tigers include empty suits, men of straw, straw men, tin gods, fronts, covers, idols, officials and sacred cows. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com!