Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
something-looks-good-on-paper
idiom
/ˈsʌmθɪŋ lʊks ɡʊd ɒn ˈpeɪpə/
Definition
An idea, plan, or proposal that appears to be advantageous or appealing when described in theory, but may not be effective or successful in practice.
Examples
- The plan for the new marketing strategy looks good on paper, but we need to see if it actually works in real life.
- They promised many benefits with the new software, but it just looks good on paper.
Meaning
This phrase is used to describe situations or projects that sound perfect in theory but often fail to work as intended when implemented.
Synonyms
- theoretical
- idealistic
- conceptual
- optimistic view
