English Explanatory Dictionary

there's no such thing as a free lunch

English dictionary entry

Meanings

phrase
  1. Nothing is free; even things that appear free often have to be paid for in the end.

Word forms

there's no such thing as a free lunch there ain't no such thing as a free lunch there is no free lunch there is no such thing as a free lunch

Etymology

In use since the 1930s. Popularized by the American economist Milton Friedman through the title of a 1975 book, and frequently misattributed to him.

Synonyms

TANSTAAFL TINSTAAFL

Related words

free lunch BNPL freedom is not free point of sale tragedy of the commons you don't get something for nothing
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