paper (redirected from papered)

not be worth the paper it's/they're printed/written on

if an agreement or decision is not worth the paper it is written on, it has no value or importance. A qualification like that isn't worth the paper it's written on.

See also: it's, print, worth, written

couldn't [act/argue/fight] your way out of a paper bag (humorous)

if someone couldn't act, argue, fight etc. their way out of a paper bag, they act, argue, fight etc. very badly. It's no good asking Jim to protect you - he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag.

See also: act, argue, bag, couldn't, fight, way

get your walking papers (American)

give someone their walking papers - to tell someone they must leave their job. Since they got their walking papers from the chemical company, none of them has been able to find another job.

See also: walking

give someone their walking papers (American)

to tell someone they must leave their job. The manager gave his old secretary her walking papers and hired his daughter to do the job.

See also: give, walking

on paper

if something seems good or true on paper, it seems to be good or true when you read or think about it but it might not be good or true in a real situation. She looked good on paper but was one of the weakest interviewees we saw today. On paper it could work, but I won't be convinced until I see it for myself.

a paper chase (American & Australian)

the activity of dealing with many different documents in order to achieve something. To receive even the smallest amount of financial aid from a college, it's a real paper chase.

See also: chase

a paper tiger

a country or organization that seems powerful but is not. Will the United Nations be able to make any difference, or is it just a paper tiger?

a paper trail (American & Australian)

documents which show what someone has been doing. He was easy to find, he left a paper trail a mile wide.

See also: trail

paper/smooth over the cracks

to hide problems or faults, especially arguments between people, in order to make a situation seem better than it really is. The two-party coalition has so far been successful in papering over the cracks. I'm tired of smoothing over the cracks in our marriage - I want a divorce! (sometimes + in)

See also: crack, over, smooth

put pen to paper

to start to write something. I keep meaning to write to her but I haven't yet managed to put pen to paper.

See also: pen

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not worth the paper something is printed on

to have no value or importance. He's got a degree from an online university that's not worth the paper it's printed on. The landlord's promises were not worth the paper they were written on.

See also: print, worth

on paper

possibly. On paper it looks like it could work, but I won't be convinced until I see it in operation.

paper over something

to solve a problem temporarily. They papered over their disagreements in order to end the meeting on a positive note. She has a solid record of bridging differences between groups, not just papering them over.

See also: over

put pen to paper

to write on paper. You can e-mail us, or, of course, you can always put pen to paper and send us a letter.

See also: pen