there is no free lunch
phrase
—used to say that it is not possible to get something that is desired or valuable without having to pay for it in some way
Video
There, They're, Their
There, there. We'll sort it out.
Cite this Entry
“There is no free lunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/there%20is%20no%20free%20lunch. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
