Print money
Meaning
To generate a lot of money or profit with little effort or risk.
Origin
The phrase "print money" draws its power from the literal act of a government or central bank creating new currency. For centuries, the ability to physically produce money was a fundamental power of sovereign states, often used to fund wars or stimulate economies, though sometimes leading to inflation. This tangible process of manufacturing wealth eventually lent its name to any activity that replicates that effortless generation of value. It became a vivid metaphor for ventures that yield an extremely high profit margin with minimal effort or capital investment, capturing the essence of conjuring wealth into existence as if from thin air.
Examples
- That innovative online course is practically printing money for its creator, selling thousands of subscriptions every month.
- The company's new product is so popular and cheap to produce that they're effectively printing money with every unit sold.