English

Noun

paper tiger ‎(plural paper tigers)

1. (idiomatic) A seemingly fierce or powerful person, country or organisation without the ability to back up their words; apparently powerful but actually ineffective.
   • 2008, Ian Kershaw, "The twisted road to war", The Guardian, 23 Aug 2008:

     The League of Nations was by this time scarcely even a paper tiger, devoid of credibility since its divisions and pusillanimity had been so clearly laid bare following Mussolini's invasion of Abyssinia in the autumn of 1935.

Translations

See also

• all bark and no bite