Idioms for paper

    on paper,
    1. in written or printed form.
    2. in theory rather than in practice.
    3. existing only in a preliminary state; in a plan or design: The university building program is still only on paper.

Origin of paper

1325–75; Middle English papire < Latin papȳrus papyrus

OTHER WORDS FROM paper

pa·per·less, adjective pa·per·like, adjective re·pa·per, verb (used with object) un·pa·pered, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for on paper

paper
/ (ˈpeɪpə) /

noun

adjective

verb

See also paper over

Derived forms of paper

paperer, noun

Word 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