# there's no such thing as a free lunch

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/theres-no-such-thing-as-a-free-lunch
Updated: 2026-06-07

## Meaning

Nothing is entirely free

## Examples

- You must pay for that gift because there's no such thing as a free lunch.
- The app is free to download, but you soon realize there's no such thing as a free lunch when you see all the advertisements.
- While the government promised lower taxes and better services, the public remained skeptical, knowing that there's no such thing as a free lunch in the world of economics.

## Origin

From 19th-century American saloons that offered a 'free lunch' to anyone buying a drink — the cost was hidden in the drink prices; later popularised in economics by Milton Friedman.

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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.