Idioms for paper
- in written or printed form.
- in theory rather than in practice.
- existing only in a preliminary state; in a plan or design: The university building program is still only on paper.
on paper,
Origin of paper
OTHER WORDS FROM paper
pa·per·less, adjective pa·per·like, adjective re·pa·per, verb (used with object) un·pa·pered, adjectiveWords nearby paper
papaw,
papaya,
papeete,
papelera,
papen,
paper,
paper birch,
paper chase,
paper chromatography,
paper clip,
paper cutter
British Dictionary definitions for on paper
paper
/ (ˈpeɪpə) /
noun
adjective
verb
See also
paper over
Derived forms of paper
paperer, nounWord Origin for paper
C14: from Latin
papyrus
Idioms and Phrases with on paper (1 of 2)
on paper
In theory, hypothetically, as in Considering casualties, on paper the Americans won the Vietnam War, or They are a good team on paper but not so in the field. This metaphoric expression contrasts something written down with concrete reality. [Late 1700s]
Idioms and Phrases with on paper (2 of 2)
paper