Idiom
corporate welfare bum
Meaning
A business corporation or business executive receiving significant financial assistance from government sources.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“The politician called the failing company a corporate welfare bum.”
“He thinks every billionaire who takes a government grant is a corporate welfare bum.”
“That shipping company acts like a corporate welfare bum by avoiding all its taxes.”
“Critics argue that the airline is a corporate welfare bum because it relies on government subsidies to survive.”
“Local activists protested the new factory, claiming the wealthy owners are just corporate welfare bums looking for free land and tax exemptions.”
“Small business owners often feel frustrated when a corporate welfare bum receives millions in aid while they struggle to pay their monthly rent.”
“During the public debate, the professor explained how a corporate welfare bum can stay profitable only by using money taken from regular taxpayers.”
“The editorial condemned the massive tax breaks for the bank, labeling the institution a corporate welfare bum that exploits public funds for private gain.”
Examples
simple
“The politician called the failing company a corporate welfare bum.”
“He thinks every billionaire who takes a government grant is a corporate welfare bum.”
“That shipping company acts like a corporate welfare bum by avoiding all its taxes.”
contextual
“Critics argue that the airline is a corporate welfare bum because it relies on government subsidies to survive.”
“Local activists protested the new factory, claiming the wealthy owners are just corporate welfare bums looking for free land and tax exemptions.”
“Small business owners often feel frustrated when a corporate welfare bum receives millions in aid while they struggle to pay their monthly rent.”
“During the public debate, the professor explained how a corporate welfare bum can stay profitable only by using money taken from regular taxpayers.”
complex
“The editorial condemned the massive tax breaks for the bank, labeling the institution a corporate welfare bum that exploits public funds for private gain.”
Origin
Coined in 1972 by Canadian labor leader and politician David Lewis (1909-1981). The term postdates welfare bum: it represents a blend of corporate welfare + welfare bum.
Key words
Related idioms
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