couldn't fight your way out of a paper bag

couldn't fight (one's) way out of a paper bag

Is extremely weak, ineffectual, or incompetent. You can definitely beat that scrawny kid—come on, he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag! Don't assign that project to her, she couldn't fight her way out of a paper bag! A: "Did you hear that Sam got promoted to General Manager?" B: "You've got to be kidding me! That guy couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag!"

See also: bag, fight, of, out, paper, way

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

couldn't fight your way out of a paper bag

If someone couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag, they are very bad at fighting. They are no use to you as allies. They couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag. Note: You can replace fight with other verbs that state what someone is not able to do. Not one of these actors could act their way out of a paper bag.

See also: bag, fight, of, out, paper, way

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012