brass plate operations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "brass plate operations" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to refer to a company or organization that has a physical presence in a given location, but does not actually conduct any business activities there. For example, "The firm is based in London but its brass plate operations in Ireland enable it to take advantage of the more lenient tax regulations there."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Profits earned at brass-plate operations with directors hired from central casting would probably be considered "wholly artificial arrangements" set up primarily to evade paying tax and could find themselves back in the British tax net.

The Economist

If so, do the London-headquartered banks merely have to set a brass-plate operation in Frankfurt, Paris or elsewhere?

The Guardian - Business

"We have always said … we would not be predatory … that we are not interested in brass-plating," he said, referring to the practice of setting up a token operation with a brass plate sign outside in order to gain market access.

The Guardian

Will you have a brass plate?

The New York Times

A brass plate outside Mossack Fonseca's Geneva subsidiary.

The Guardian

The brass plate on the front is engraved as follows: "No.

Yale University

A brass plate engraved with his name was on the door.

The New Yorker

Brass plate shifting has squandered £2bn, while the NHS suffers cuts of £20bn.

The Guardian - Opinion

Not only that, she said, it comes with a brass plate engraved with your name.

The New York Times

"Will the [Bank of England's] Prudential Regulation Authority be satisfied with moving a brass plate?

Independent

A brass plate identifies him as "The Noble Savage in his Native Habitat".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "brass plate operations", ensure that the context clearly indicates the lack of genuine business activity in the specified location. Provide details to support this claim.

Common error

Avoid using "brass plate operations" to describe companies with small but legitimate offices. This phrase implies a near-complete absence of actual business functions, not simply a limited scale of operations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "brass plate operations" functions as a noun phrase, often used as an object or modifier to describe business entities with minimal or superficial presence in a specific location. Based on Ludwig AI analysis, it often implies tax evasion or regulatory circumvention.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "brass plate operations" refers to companies that maintain a minimal physical presence in a location, primarily for legal or financial advantages. According to Ludwig AI analysis, this phrase is grammatically correct but infrequently used, and no examples were found in the current search data. Related terms include "shell corporations" and "front companies". When employing this phrase, ensure the context supports the implication of limited genuine business activity and understand the potential negative connotations associated with tax avoidance or regulatory evasion. The expert rating reflects the grammatical soundness of the phrase, balanced against its low frequency and potentially controversial implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shell corporations

Focuses on the lack of genuine business activity.

front companies

Suggests the operation exists to conceal true activities.

letterbox companies

Highlights the minimal physical presence of the operation.

paper companies

Emphasizes the lack of substantial assets or operations.

token operations

Emphasizes the symbolic nature of the operation.

sham businesses

Implies deceptive or fraudulent intent.

artificial entities

Highlights the contrived nature of the business arrangement.

non-operating entities

Focuses on the absence of active business functions.

nominee companies

Suggests operations are conducted on behalf of another party.

limited presence operations

Highlights the operations have restricted activities.

FAQs

How can I use "brass plate operations" in a sentence?

You can say, "The company maintains "brass plate operations" in several countries to minimize its tax burden".

What does "brass plate operations" mean?

It refers to a company that exists in name only, often with a registered office but no real business activity at that location.

What are some synonyms for "brass plate operations"?

Alternatives include "shell corporations", "front companies", or "paper companies", all implying a lack of genuine business activity.

What is the purpose of establishing "brass plate operations"?

Companies often establish "brass plate operations" for tax avoidance, regulatory arbitrage, or to obscure the true ownership of assets.