no strings attached
Without conditions or obligations; without a catch.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You can borrow my car — no strings attached.”
“I will help you move your furniture, no strings attached.”
“They give away free coffee every Monday, no strings attached.”
“The company offered a free trial with no strings attached, so I decided to try it.”
“The local community center offers free computer classes with no strings attached to help residents find better jobs.”
“She accepted the scholarship because it was a pure gift with no strings attached regarding her future career.”
“He gave her the old piano, no strings attached, asking only that she play it sometimes and think of him.”
disputed origin
From the figurative use of strings to denote conditions or limitations, the idiom may have originated with a common street prank. A money purse would be placed upon the ground to entice a passerby, only to be jerked away by a concealed string when they attempted to retrieve it. While the story remains an unproven theory for the phrase, it suggests a transaction offered without such invisible tethering.
- 01
another string to one's bow
Another skill, ability or resource to be used in case of failure.
- 02
apron string
A symbol of the domestic ties binding a male to a female (as a husband to a wife or a son to a mother).
- 03
harp on one string
To dwell on a single subject with disagreeable or wearisome persistence.
- 04
harp on the same string
To repeatedly say the same thing.
- 05
hold the purse strings
To be in control of spending; to have financial power and responsibility.
- 06
loosen the apron strings
To allow greater freedom (to someone); to relax control of (someone).
- 07
loosen the purse strings
To increase spending or allow increased spending; to relax control of spending.
- 08
pull strings
To manipulate a situation, especially by asking favours of others; to use one's influence with others to attain a desired goal.
Last updated August 10, 2026