Paper tiger

This article is about a Chinese metaphor. For other meanings, see Paper tiger (disambiguation).

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The phrase paper tiger is a literal English translation of the Chinese phrase zhi laohu (紙老虎), meaning something which seems as threatening as a tiger, but is really harmless. The common usage is synonymous with the adjective toothless, meaning ineffective.

Related Topics:
English - Chinese - Tiger

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The phrase is an ancient one in Chinese, but sources differ

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as to when it entered the English vocabulary. Although some sources may claim it actually dates back as far as 1850 http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=paper+tiger, it seems the Chinese phrase was first translated when it was applied to describe the United States. In 1956, Chairman Mao Zedong, said of the US:

Related Topics:
1850 - United States - 1956 - Mao Zedong

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:"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. I believe the United States is nothing but a paper tiger." http://www.maoism.org/msw/vol5/mswv5_52.htm

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In recent years, it has become a frequent term used to describe China or its economy, especially in the American and British press.

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A variation on this term is paper champion.

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• Etymology Online entry for 'paper'