# free lunch

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/free-lunch
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Something obtained without any payment, obligation or effort.

## Examples

- Don't expect a free lunch in this business.
- He was suspicious of the offer because he knew there is no such thing as a free lunch.
- Investors soon realized that the company's promise of high returns without any risk was merely a mirage, proving once again that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.