way out of a paper bag

alternative way out of a wet paper bag

1. idiomaticslangA minimal level of competence or effectiveness, as used in phrases where one is unable to perform.

   Junior varsity couldn't play their way out of a paper bag in comparison.

   5 more examples

   My boss is so clueless, he couldn't schedule his own way out of a paper bag.

   The old chap did not look as though he could push his way out of a paper bag.

   1923, Asia, volume 23, American Asiatic Association, page 281

   Personally I don’t think this egg could punch his way out of a paper bag. He’s only been workin’ in this trap two days

   1924, Harry Charles Witwer, Love and Learn, G. P. Putnam's sons, page 260

   To be fair, many people who couldn’t punctuate their way out of a paper bag are still interested in the way punctuation can alter the sense of a string of words. It is the basis of all “I’m sorry, I’ll read that again” jokes.

   2003 November 6, Lynne Truss, “Introduction – The Seventh Sense”, in Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, London: Profile Books Ltd, →ISBN, page 8

   “You'd hate his cooking[,” he said.] “Most guys can't cook their way out of a paper bag[,” Charlotte said.]

   2014, Allie Peter, Saved by the Fireman, page 105