I came across the phrase, someone who wears “a pair of khaki pants inside a manila envelope” in Vanity Fair’s December 1st issue, which came under the headline,”Look at what we love. It’s on fire: Stephen Colbert on Trump trauma, leadership loss.” The lead copy follows:
The late night host is ready for a little less excitement. “If Joe Biden is a pair of khaki pants inside a manila envelope, that would be great.”
I don’t understand what on the earth “someone who is a pair of khaki inside a manila envelope” mean.
No dictionary at hand, nor Google search gives a definition of “pair of khaki pants in manila envelope.” I know it’s a figurative turn of phrase, and my naive guess is it implies someone who behaves just like an average people, though he or she is in upper social hierarchy. But, I’m not sure. Is this a common, well-received phrase? I appreciate if somebody teaches me.
Best Answer
I think other answers have missed a couple of things
Firstly notice that no-one wears pants inside an envelope - that would be impossible. The statement says that Biden is pants inside an envelope.
Secondly, the metaphor says that Biden (a) looks boring from the outside and (b) his personality (his inside) is also boring.
Manila envelope
Khaki pants
In the light of comments I thought I would take the investigation a step further
Perhaps the phrase is more than just a metaphor. I notice that the colours of the Biden/Harris campaign seem to include khaki. (I'm British so I didn't experience this first-hand)
Here's some campaign merchandise
... and here's a pure guess. Could Biden promotional material have arrived in a manila envelope containing a picture of Joe wearing khaki? I don't know. He certainly does wear khaki pants and even suits sometimes.