free lunch

noun

|Updated on: 24 Jul 2018

Definition of free lunch

: something one does not have to pay for; also : free ride

Recent Examples of free lunch from the Web

The summer adventure and free lunch program worked to entertain and feed children in the area under 18.

— madeline mitchell, Cincinnati.com, "Price Hill Branch Library closed temporarily, suspending free food services for children," 5 July 2018
Those 55 and older are invited to an afternoon of dancing, a free lunch and music by Pete Carlo Three.

— staff report, Post-Tribune, "Community news," 6 July 2018
The Granbury school district started its summer free lunch program in 2007.

— rick mauch, star-telegram, "Free summer lunches a tasty hit in Fort Worth area," 3 July 2018
Tuesday Fun Lunch – Hilltop Shelter in Beech Grove's Sarah T. Bolton Park hosts free lunch and activities for kids on July 10 and July 17.

— chris sims, Indianapolis Star, "Here are 36 free things to do with your kids around Indy in July," 26 June 2018
Birthday Babes enjoy a free lunch, cake and ice cream.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Colchester Edition," 19 June 2018
Meal delivery app Eat Purely is giving away 500 free lunches this week to celebrate the launch of its new $10 Lunches in the Loop service.

— hannah steinkopf-frank, RedEye Chicago, "Get free lunch in the Loop courtesy of Eat Purely," 24 Apr. 2018
As Heinlein wrote, though, there ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

— mark hachman, PCWorld, "S5Mark is a 'VPN' that is actually a rootkit in disguise, BitDefender says," 18 June 2018
The Glendale Unified School District, in association with the city of Glendale, is offering a free lunch program for local children this summer.

— mark kellam, latimes.com, "Free lunch program offered to local children," 12 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'free lunch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of free lunch

1900

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Financial Definition of FREE LUNCH

free lunch

noun

What It Is

Free lunch is a phrase used to describe getting something for nothing.

How It Works

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Why It Matters

There are many things in life that seem to come for free: clean air, elementary school, a good-looking wife for example. Although these things indeed do not come with a blatant financial price or transaction attached at the time of use, we all know that our taxes pay to keep the air clean and operate schools, for example. And of course, nobody gets a good-looking wife without paying for a few dinners and a ring.

Source: Investing Answers