Dictionary

paper cut en · NOUN

Etymology

From paper + cut.

Meanings

1. A wound caused by a piece of paper or any thin, sharp material which can slice through a person's skin.
2. (figuratively) Any minor harm.
   • They range from gaping wounds— Mexico's Copper Canyon, for example—to mere paper cuts like Willis Creek Canyon 2008, Kathy Copeland, Craig Copeland, Hiking from Here to WOW: Utah Canyon Country: Utah Canyon Country:
   • Where every day is devoted to minimize the mental and emotional paper cuts of fear and helplessness. 2004, Karen Haber, Exploring the Matrix: Visions of the Cyber Present, page 203:
   • Investors do cope with more challenges than paper cuts as they count cash 2010, J. B. Loewen, Money Magnet: How to Attract Investors to Your Business:
   • You are totally gaga over your husband of thirty years, the handsome and athletic CEO of a non-profit that's dedicated to finding a cure for disease, world hunger, and paper cuts. 2009, Jill Milligan, Grandma Rules: Notes on Grandmotherhood, the World's Best Job:
   • While this too may appear painfully obvious, it is amazing how easy it is to sometimes overlook the little things. (As someone used to say, “It's the paper cuts that kill you!”) 2009, Rick Balsiger, Branding You Marketing You: A Guide to Maximizing Job Search Success:
   • The muscle hurried around to stand in front of Gregor. Jonah held up a hand. “Hey, easy there. Your boss isn't in any danger, unless he's prone to paper cuts.” Gregor rolled his eyes and stepped through the security guards. 2015, Steven Savile, David Sakmyster, NDE: The Lazarus Inititiative:
   • You'd think a nurse would want to get blood on her uniform to show people she did something useful with her day instead of just saving schoolboys from paper cuts. 2013, Scott Blagden, Dear Life, You Suck, page 86:
3. (qualifier:film and video editing) A text-based description of the cuts to be made in raw footage to make finished video.
4. A decorative ornament made by artful cutting of paper, as into silhouettes.
5. a paper cut bug: a bug which causes harm and would be easy to fix.

Forms

Deriveds

death by a thousand paper cuts

Translations (14)

cmn 剪紙 /剪纸 (decorative ornament made by artful cutting of paper, as into silhouettes) · ru поре́з (wound caused by piece of paper) · da papirklip (decorative ornament made by artful cutting of paper, as into silhouettes) · tr kâğıt kesiği (wound caused by piece of paper) · sv skärsår (wound caused by piece of paper) · no papirkutt (wound caused by piece of paper) · es corte papelero (wound caused by piece of paper) · es corte de papel (wound caused by piece of paper) · cmn 被紙割傷 /被纸割伤 (wound caused by piece of paper) · fi paperihaava (wound caused by piece of paper) · sv paper cut (wound caused by piece of paper) · fi viiltohaava (wound caused by piece of paper) · fi paperileikkaus (decorative ornament made by artful cutting of paper, as into silhouettes) · de Papierschnittwunde (wound caused by piece of paper)