paper tiger

death by a thousand paper cuts

An ultimate negative outcome, such as the failure of a project, brought about by an excessive number of bureaucratic hurdles.

have a tiger by the tail

To be in a difficult or dangerous situation in which one ideally should not remain, but from which one cannot withdraw.

have the tiger by the tail

To be in a difficult or dangerous situation in which one ideally should not remain, but from which one cannot withdraw.

lady or tiger

A pure gamble with highly divergent outcomes.

paper trail

A written record, history, or collection of evidence.

put pen to paper

To write something (especially using pen and ink).

ride the tiger

To maintain control over something aggressive and dangerous.

start with a clean sheet of paper

Synonym of start with a clean sheet.