print

be a licence to print money (British & Australian, American)

if a company or activity is a licence to print money, it causes people to become very rich without having to make any effort. These shopping channels are just a licence to print money.

See also: money

not be worth the paper it's/they're printed/written on

if an agreement or decision is not worth the paper it is written on, it has no value or importance. A qualification like that isn't worth the paper it's written on.

See also: it's, paper, worth, written

the fine/small print

the part of a printed agreement that is printed smaller than the rest but which contains very important information. Never sign a contract until you have read the small print.

See also: fine, small

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in print

in a published form. This is the first time that I've seen his speeches in print. The biography generated a lot of interest and now all her novels are back in print.

out of print

not worth the paper something is printed on

to have no value or importance. He's got a degree from an online university that's not worth the paper it's printed on. The landlord's promises were not worth the paper they were written on.

See also: paper, worth

out of print

no longer available in published form. I'm afraid you can't order that book — it's out of print.

in print

read the fine print

to know all the information contained in a document. This new law will disappoint a lot of voters once they have had a chance to read the fine print. You should always read the fine print before signing a contract.

Etymology: based on the idea that often what is printed in very small type in a document is the most important information

See also: fine, read

read the small printSee: read the fine print

See also: read, small