print (redirected from printing)

in print

[of a book, magazine, newspaper, or other written material] to be available from the publisher. Ten thousand copies of the first edition remain in print. The publisher listed all of its books in print.

not worth the paper it's written on and not worth the paper it's printed on

Fig. [of a document] meaningless or without authority; of no value. That contract isn't worth the paper it's written on. All the signatures are forged. Don't take a check from that guy. It's not worth the paper it's written on.

See also: paper, worth, written

out of print

[for a book] to be no longer available from the publisher. The book you want just went out of print, but perhaps I can find a used copy for you. It was published nearly ten years ago, so it's probably out of print.

See also: out

print something in something 

1. to make block letters in a specific location on a paper. Please print your name in the box. Would you please print the information in the space provided?

2. to publish something in a publication. They printed my letter in today's paper. Her stories have been printed in several magazines.

print something out 

1. to write something out by using block letters. Please print it out. I can't read your handwriting. Print out your name, please.

2. to use a computer printer to print something. I will print a copy out and send it to you. Please print out another copy.

See also: out

print something up

to set something in type and print it; to print something by any process. This looks okay to me. Let's print it up now. Print up the final version.

See also: up

put something in (to) print

to publish something; to record something spoken in printed letters. The article looks good. We will put it into print as soon as possible. We'll put it in print as soon as we can.

See also: put

rush something into print

to print up something hastily. The story was so timely that the newspaper editor rushed it into print without checking all the details. We will rush the book into print as soon as the author finishes.

See also: rush

small print and fine print

an important part of a document that is not easily noticed because of the smallness of the printing. You should have read the small print before signing the contract. You should always read the fine print of an insurance policy.

See also: small

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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: paper, worth

be a licence to print money  (British & Australian) also be a license to print money (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

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

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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.

Opposite of: out of print

not worth the paper something is printed on also not worth the paper something is written 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.

Opposite of: in print

See also: out

read the fine print

to know all the information contained in a document read the small print 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 print See: read the fine print

See also: read, small