way out of a wet paper bag

A form of way out of a paper bag — A minimal level of competence or effectiveness, as used in phrases where one is unable to perform.

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Meanings

phrase
  1. alternativeAlternative form of way out of a paper bag.

    After four weeks, I gave up [Econ] in disgust, muttering that the clown teaching it couldn't teach his way out of a wet paper bag.

    2003, James J. Cramer, Confessions of a Street Addict, page 16
Cite this entry
APA

way out of a wet paper bag. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/way%20out%20of%20a%20wet%20paper%20bag

MLA

“way out of a wet paper bag.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/way%20out%20of%20a%20wet%20paper%20bag. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “way out of a wet paper bag,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/way%20out%20of%20a%20wet%20paper%20bag.

Source: way out of a wet paper bag on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.