单词 | upon paper |
释义 | > as lemmasupon paper c. on paper: (a) in writing, in print (also upon paper, †in paper (obsolete)); (b) in theory or in principle, rather than in practice or reality.Now generally used of something represented, promised, planned, or forecast (not always actually in writing), with a suggestion that the reality may not match up to expectations. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > state of having been written > [adverb] in scripturec1400 in write1483 in (also under) black and white1569 on paper1582 scriptitiously1815 the mind > mental capacity > belief > speculation > confirmation of hypothesis, theory > [adverb] > as opposed to in practice contemplatively1552 on paper1582 nominally1739 in principle1756 theoretically1790 unempirically1848 1582 R. Stanyhurst in tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis 96 But shal I looue the lady, so as Petrarck Laura regarded? In paper her dandling? her person neauer atayning? 1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia iv. 161 All those..are rather things in words and paper then in effect. 1657 tr. A. Thevet Prosopographia 76, in T. North tr. Plutarch Lives (new ed.) The Laws..(on Paper fixt)..pass the Seas. 1710 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 14 Nov. (1965) I. 64 I have tryd to write plainly. I know not what one can say more upon Paper. 1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. viii. 158 I would oblige the World by putting it in Paper, and making it publick. 1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 14 A man may be very entertaining and instructive upon paper..and exceedingly dull in common discourse. 1788 Amer. Museum 3 336/2 The form of their constitution, as it is on paper, admits not of coercion. But necessity introduced it in practice. 1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park III. xii. 227 It is impossible to put an hundredth part of my great mind on paper, so I will abstain altogether. View more context for this quotation 1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus ii. vii. 60/2 How beautiful to die of broken-heart, on Paper! Quite another thing in Practice. 1884 E. R. Lankester in Athenæum 29 Mar. 412/2 Lamarckism looks very well on paper, but..when put to the test of observation and experiment it collapses absolutely. 1948 Sat. Rev. 19 June 4/3 The idea sounded fine on paper and gave story editors of rival studios conniption fits, but did not work out in practice. 1977 World of Cricket Monthly June 82/3 On paper, Hampshire looked a short-odds bet for any of the one-day competitions. 2001 This Old House Apr. 124/2 The place measured 2,610 square feet, which sounded good on paper, but almost a sixth of the living space was cored right out of the center by a grand staircase. < as lemmas |
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