paper tiger

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Driving him into exile is an opportunity for the president to paint the grouping a paper tiger.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

The escalation was designed to show the world that Iran was a "paper tiger", said Fawaz Gerges, professor of International Relations at London School of Economics.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2024

Additionally, the judge wondered why the district attorney sent the notice to multiple local law enforcement officials “if, as he now claims, his notice is merely a paper tiger and nothing more.”

From Seattle Times • Sep. 1, 2023

"Before, the virus was as fierce as a tiger, but now it is a paper tiger," the contributor wrote last week.

From Reuters • Dec. 2, 2022

"Truly, the all-powerful Yin would risk his flowery existence, laughing at this paper tiger, who is mad enough to demand an audience with the Son of Heaven," replied one of the mandarins.

From The War Tiger Or, Adventures and Wonderful Fortunes of the Young Sea Chief and His Lad Chow: A Tale of the Conquest of China by Dalton, William