free lunch

noun

Definition of free lunch

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

Examples of free lunch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Also serving free lunches to children is Ramona Boys & Girls Club at 622 E St. Lunch will be served from noon to 1 p.m. July 9 to Aug. 17. — sandiegouniontribune.com, "Free lunches available to children this summer," 19 June 2018 The group is celebrating its opening with a public fete — and free lunch — Friday. — Mary Louise Schumacher, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Friday's the unveiling for Sculpture Milwaukee on Wisconsin Ave.; here's a first look," 1 June 2018 Branch also is offering youngsters free lunches, arts and crafts classes, a reading program for older children, ballet dance lessons, and sessions to teach kids and adults how to use and program computers. — Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, "She was homeless until a Detroit library stepped in to help," 29 June 2018 Children under 18 years old can receive free lunches, which must be eaten at the sites. — Mark Kellam, latimes.com, "Free lunch program offered to local children," 12 June 2018 By 11:40, approximately 50 students had shown up for the free lunch, according to Jacobo-Smith, twice the number of total students who showed up for the breakfast service. — azcentral, "LIVE updates: Thousands of teachers, supporters walk out for more education funding," 26 Apr. 2018 In Cleveland, 100 percent of students qualify for free lunch. — Patrick O'donnell, cleveland.com, "Vast poverty differences create unfair comparisons on Nation's Report Card," 13 Apr. 2018 In Clinton, Indiana, a vacation bible school was blocked from advertising a free lunch event for kids ages 3 to 12. — Sarah Frier, Anchorage Daily News, "Facebook’s algorithm blocks ads for Bush’s beans, singers named Clinton," 3 July 2018 Libraries in the southwest area that will provide free lunches are the Arbutus, Lansdowne, and Woodlawn branches. — Cody Boteler, baltimoresun.com, "County schools, libraries offer free meals this summer," 19 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.

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Last Updated

16 Oct 2018

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Time Traveler for free lunch

The first known use of free lunch was in 1900

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free lunch

noun

Financial Definition of free lunch

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

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