tigre de papel

Portuguese

Etymology

Calque from Chinese 紙老虎／纸老虎 (zhǐlǎohǔ).

Pronunciation

 
  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈt͡ʃi.ɡɾi d͡ʒi paˈpɛw/ [ˈt͡ʃi.ɡɾi d͡ʒi paˈpɛʊ̯]
    • (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈt͡ʃi.ɡɾe de paˈpɛw/ [ˈt͡ʃi.ɡɾe de paˈpɛʊ̯]
 
  • (Portugal) IPA(key): /ˈti.ɡɾɨ dɨ pɐˈpɛl/ [ˈti.ɣɾɨ ðɨ pɐˈpɛɫ]
    • (Southern Portugal) IPA(key): /ˈti.ɡɾɨ dɨ pɐˈpɛ.li/ [ˈti.ɣɾɨ ðɨ pɐˈpɛ.li]

Noun

tigre de papel m (plural tigres de papel)

  1. (idiomatic) paper tiger (a seemingly fierce or powerful person, country or organisation)

Further reading

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