paper tiger

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Definitions from WordNet

Noun paper tiger has 1 sense

paper tiger - 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"
--₁ is a kind of powerlessness, impotence, impotency

Definitions from the Web

Paper Tiger

Noun:

Sense 1:

A person or thing that appears threatening or powerful but is actually weak or ineffective.

Example sentence:

Despite his aggressive demeanor, everyone knew that the school bully was just a paper tiger.

Adjective:

Sense 1:

Describing something or someone that seems fierce or dangerous but is actually harmless.

Example sentence:

The small dog's barking made him appear like a paper tiger.

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