paper tiger: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2/C1Informal, literary, political
Quick answer
What does “paper tiger” mean?
A person, organisation, or country that appears powerful, dangerous, or threatening, but is actually weak, ineffectual, and incapable of causing serious harm.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, organisation, or country that appears powerful, dangerous, or threatening, but is actually weak, ineffectual, and incapable of causing serious harm.
An entity whose formidable appearance is a deceptive facade, masking inherent ineffectiveness, vulnerability, or lack of real power or will.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Slightly more common in American political discourse due to its historical use in Cold War contexts.
Connotations
Often carries a geopolitical or critical tone. Can imply foolishness or hubris in the subject being labelled.
Frequency
Low-frequency, but understood by educated speakers in both varieties. More likely encountered in analytical or political writing/speech than casual conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “paper tiger” in a Sentence
[Entity] is/are a paper tiger.[Agent] exposed/dismissed/labelled [Entity] as a paper tiger.The threat from [Entity] proved to be a paper tiger.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “paper tiger” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as an adjective. Use attributive noun: 'a paper-tiger regime' (hyphenated when used attributively).
American English
- Not applicable as an adjective. Use attributive noun: 'paper tiger opponents'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe a competitor that has a large market presence but is financially unstable or strategically weak.
Academic
Used in political science, international relations, and sociology to critique perceived power structures.
Everyday
Used to describe a bully, a strict teacher/parent who doesn't enforce rules, or an institution that makes threats it cannot carry out.
Technical
Not used in STEM fields; remains a socio-political term.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “paper tiger”
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'That threat is very paper tiger') – it is a noun phrase. Correct: 'That threat is a paper tiger.'
- Spelling as 'paper-tiger' (hyphenated). The standard modern form is two separate words.
- Confusing it with 'scapegoat' or 'sacrificial lamb'. A paper tiger is about false power, not blame.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a pointed criticism. It labels an entity as weak, ineffectual, and deceptive in its show of strength, which is often humiliating.
Yes, commonly for authority figures like bosses, politicians, or bullies who project power they do not actually possess.
It is a direct translation from the Chinese phrase 'zhilaohu' (纸老虎). It was popularised in English in the mid-20th century, notably through translations of Mao Zedong's statements, where he used it to describe 'imperialism and all reactionaries'.
When used as a compound noun (the subject/object), it is typically two words: 'a paper tiger'. When used attributively before another noun, a hyphen is often used for clarity: 'a paper-trogue doctrine'.
A person, organisation, or country that appears powerful, dangerous, or threatening, but is actually weak, ineffectual, and incapable of causing serious harm.
Paper tiger is usually informal, literary, political in register.
Paper tiger: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpeɪpə ˈtaɪɡə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpeɪpər ˈtaɪɡər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All bark and no bite.”
- “A wolf in sheep's clothing (note: this implies deception with malicious intent, whereas a paper tiger may be self-deceived).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a child's drawing of a scary tiger, but it's just on a piece of PAPER. It looks fierce but you can crumple it up easily. A 'paper tiger' is just like that picture—fearsome in appearance only.
Conceptual Metaphor
APPEARANCE IS DECEPTIVE / THREAT IS AN INEFFECTUAL PREDATOR.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'paper tiger' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?