It is used to describe someone who is incapable of doing the most basic, straightforward things. Meaning: Derived from how effortless the physical act is, this expression means a person is incompetent, weak or dim. Can’t punch one’s way out of a wet paper bag He quit because he knew he couldn’t make a difference if he stayed a paper pusher.ĥ. This paper-pusher is all over every little detail of my case!
A lesser-known usage of this expression means a fraudulent criminal or somebody who writes dishonored checks out of habit. It is also used to describe a bureaucrat whose primary job involves filing or reviewing paperwork. A paper pusher or paper-pusher is a bureaucrat who is very inflexible about following administrative procedures. Meaning: The expression has a negative connotation. The remaining tenants are being given their walking papers. I just received my severance package and walking papers. This expression is most commonly used in the context of firing someone from a job. Meaning: Walking papers are official papers handed over to someone to dismiss from employment, evict from a legal residence, or just an order to leave. Put your terms on paper and then we’ll talk. As opposed to empty words, putting something down on paper makes something casual more serious. This expression is used when somebody wants to add an air of seriousness or take something up formally after a casual discussion. Meaning: This means to physically write/print something down on paper with an intention to make it official. The contract has so many loopholes that it is not worth the paper it is printed on. Hyperinflation could render a nation’s currency not worth the paper it’s printed on. It is also used to imply that something is of no value, monetarily or legally. Meaning: This expression indicates that a printed/written report, agreement, or any other official document in question doesn’t hold any value because of legal reasons or because the person involved does not intend to carry out the stated action. Not worth the paper it’s printed/written on Add dynamism and character to your language with these figurative paper idioms.ġ. The word may not necessarily represent what it generally means when used in different contexts, especially as a combination with other words or in a phrase.īoost your conversational skills. One is known to encounter an idiomatic expression once every three minutes in an average English show, movie, play, book, or in conversation with a fluent native English speaker!Ĭonsider ‘paper’. Be it in books, movies, or television shows, we come across several expressions that can’t be interpreted as their literal meanings suggest. Idiomatic expressions are a common part of native English speaking. The difference between English speakers and good English speakers is the ease with which idioms are naturally rolled off the tongue.
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