licence to print money

• license to print money (US)

Often attributed to Lew Grade, and notably used by Roy Thompson of Scottish Television around 1956. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

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licence to print money (plural licences to print money)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see licence,‎ to,‎ print,‎ money.
2. (colloquial, idiomatic) A means of generating a large income with little effort.
   • 1953, United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance, Buford Rowland, William B. Boyd, U.S. Navy Bureau of Ordnance in World War II:

     Owning a machine tool plant, it was said, was almost as good as a license to print money.

   • 1960, Institute of Economic Affairs (Great Britain), Hobart papers:

     the rather casual remark of Lord Thomson, referring to his holding in Scottish Television, that the television contract was 'a licence to print money' was much quoted

   • 2003 October 1, BBC News, “ITV: From Take Your Pick to Popstars”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎:

     More competition means ITV's glory days are long gone - and the new company's bosses know they will have to fight hard to regain the old licence to print money.

• print money
• laughing all the way to the bank