paper trail

• Gesamtheit von Dokumenten oder Aufzeichnungen, die als Nachweis dafür dienen, was getan oder entschieden wurde, oft im rechtlichen, geschäftlichen oder verwaltungstechnischen Kontext verwendet.

A collection of documents or records that provide evidence of what has been done or decided, often used in legal, business, or administrative contexts.

1. Documentary evidenceB2formal

   A collection of documents or records that provide evidence of a series of events or transactions.

   Papierspur

   • The auditors followed the paper trail to uncover the fraud.
   • A clear paper trail is essential for legal compliance.
   • The investigation relied heavily on the paper trail left by the company.

2. Record of activityB2informal

   A sequence of written or printed records that show what someone has done.

   Papierspur

   • The journalist found a paper trail linking the politician to the scandal.
   • There is no paper trail for the cash payments, making them hard to trace.
   • The accountant created a paper trail for every transaction.