бумажный тигр

Russian

Etymology

Calque of Chinese 紙老虎 / 纸老虎 (zhǐlǎohǔ), Popularized by Mao Zedong.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [bʊˈmaʐnɨj tʲiɡr]

Noun

бума́жный тигр • (bumážnyj tigrm anim (genitive бума́жного ти́гра, nominative plural бума́жные ти́гры, genitive plural бума́жных ти́гров)

  1. paper tiger (someone or something that looks powerful but is actually weak)

Declension