free lunch

noun

1. food provided without charge in some bars and saloons to attract customers.

2. Informal.,  something given with no expectation of repayment, service, responsibility, etc..

   In politics there's no free lunch—everyone expects favors to be repaid.

Word History and Origins

Origin of free lunch¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Idioms and Phrases

Something acquired without due effort or cost. For example, In politics there is no free lunch; every favor calls for repayment. This expression alludes to the custom of taverns offering food free of charge to induce customers to buy drinks. It was soon extended to other kinds of gift but is often used in a negative way, as in the example. [First half of 1800s]

Example Sentences

Kyrie’s mother, Candice, had filed the paperwork for free lunch after her husband was sidelined by a car accident and she was patching together part-time jobs.

From Salon

Whether about a raft of redundancies or free lunches for staff being scrapped, news surrounding Manchester United's finances has not been positive.

From BBC

He may as well have asked if we would like a free lunch.

From BBC

The UK exemption and ultimate deal is not a free lunch.

From BBC

But it is clear, from axing of staff trips, free lunches and other perks, nothing is off limits in Sir Jim Ratcliffe's determination to make United a leaner organisation.

From BBC