free enterprise

Related to free enterprise: Free enterprise economy

free enterprise

Something that one pursues, often illegally, as a means to personal gain. Did you hear that she's started dabbling in some free enterprise and selling things on the black market?
See also: enterprise, free
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

free enterprise

Also, private enterprise. An undertaking on one's own behalf, especially a shady or illegal one. For example, The city treasurer didn't bother with competitive bids; the spirit of free enterprise just led him to his brother-in-law , or The sergeant indulged in a little private enterprise, selling cigarettes on the black market . This sarcastic application of a term that has meant, since about 1885, the freedom of private businesses to operate competitively for profit with a minimum of government control, dates from the mid-1900s.
See also: enterprise, free
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • enterprise
  • private
  • private enterprise
  • be dragging (one's) feet
  • be dragging your feet
  • dabble
  • dabble at
  • dabble at (something)
  • athlete
  • be a (something) in the making
References in periodicals archive
Free enterprise capitalism presumes that the goal of maximizing profits is pursued within the bounds of the rule of law (Friedman 1962, 1970).
Price risers: Food, kids' clothes, bus & train fares, gas & electricity plus mobility aids for the elderly It is controversial but in the round consumers would benefit greatly from this KWASI KWARTENG THE FREE ENTERPRISE GROUP SPOKESMAN
The main questions concerned the identification of the fathers of free enterprise and of communism.
The answer is that the opponents of free enterprise have gained control over the groups and institutions that increasingly make the rules and interpret events for our complex society--journalists, academics, lawyers, philanthropists, and government employees.
"Our companies have contributed largely in changing totalitarian Communist regimes to free enterprise systems," he continued.
Chamber's free-enterprise campaign has so far included stops in more than 100 cities in a grass-roots effort to engage business leaders, community officials and other citizens in a dialogue about the role of free enterprise in job creation and long-term economic prosperity.
Members of the APCA encourage all employees and businesses who care about the right to work, free employee choice on union representation or membership without coercion or intimidation, and free enterprise as the best way to keep America competitive, to get in touch with their elected members of Congress now, urging them to oppose this dangerous legislation.
Junior Achievement is comprised of passionate people inspiring kids to learn the economics of life through free enterprise education.
In 1973, the Texas Legislature mandated that all public high schools provide instruction in the "essentials of the free enterprise system." Subsequently, the State Board of Education amended school accreditation standards to require that all schools: (a) offer an elective free enterprise course to all high school students, (b) incorporate the study of the free enterprise system into the required high school social studies courses, and (c) correlate free enterprise education instruction with the elementary curriculum (Texas Education Agency, 1979).
In addition to creating far more prosperity, free enterprise also creates a middle class and distributes wealth more equitably.
The foundation created this program to provide fellowships for projects to be undertaken by journalists who share the foundation's mission to advance constitutional principles, a democratic society, and a vibrant free enterprise system.
Ten people will be chosen to go forward to the free Enterprise Island residential weekend for an intensive course in entrepreneurship, backed up by a business start-up support package.
The award is presented annually to one elected official and one business leader whose actions and attitudes exemplify the spirit of free enterprise as espoused by Adam Smith, a philosopher and professor often credited with establishing the concept of free enterprise capitalism.
The University's Free Enterprise Society have been teaching business skills to youngsters at Birmingham Children's Hospital and James Brindley Special School in Moseley.
The Way of Ignorance and Other Essays is an anthology of writings by cultural critic Wendell Berry--one of Smithsonian magazine's 35 People Who Made a Difference--about topics ranging from what freedom is really being discussed when one speaks of "free market" or "free enterprise", to the costs of so-called rugged individualism in a democratic commonwealth, to sharp-laced observations on the Kerry campaign, and much more.