way out of a paper bag

Most likely originating as, He couldn't punch his way out of a paper bag.

• "My boss is so clueless, he couldn't schedule his own way out of a paper bag."
• "Junior varsity couldn't play their way out of a paper bag in comparison."
• "The old chap did not look as though he could push his way out of a paper bag."
• "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"
• "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."
• "“You'd hate his cooking[,” he said.] “Most guys can't cook their way out of a paper bag[,” Charlotte said.]"

• couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery
• enough sense to pound sand into a rathole
• know one's ass from a hole in the ground