Explaining "There is no such thing as a free lunch"

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 06/02/2025, 09:40

English.me team member

What does it mean?

The phrase "There is no such thing as a free lunch" means that everything has a cost, even if it appears to be free. It suggests that one cannot get something for nothing; there are always hidden costs, trade-offs, or consequences associated with any good or service.

Tone

Cautionary and pragmatic

Origin

The phrase likely originated in the United States during the mid-19th century in saloons, where patrons were offered a "free lunch" when they purchased drinks. The food was typically salty, driving customers to buy more beverages. The economist Milton Friedman later popularized the term in discussions of opportunity cost.

Examples of usage

Before accepting the generous offer, she reminded herself that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
Investors should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true—there's no such thing as a free lunch.
He realized too late that the "free trial" had hidden fees; indeed, there's no such thing as a free lunch.