ProverbWisdomAmerican origin19th c.

There's no such thing as a free lunch

Meaning: Everything has a hidden cost.

Origin: In 19th-century American saloons, a "free lunch" of salty food came with the purchase of a drink — and the salt made sure customers bought more. Robert Heinlein's novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (1966) popularized the acronym TANSTAAFL, and the economist Milton Friedman used the phrase as the title of a 1975 book.

Equivalents in Spanish, Japanese, and German

  • Spanish: Nadie da duros a cuatro pesetas (literally: Nobody gives duros for four pesetas)
  • Japanese: ただより高いものはない (Tada yori takai mono wa nai) (literally: Nothing is more expensive than free)
  • German: Umsonst ist der Tod, und der kostet das Leben (literally: Only death is free, and it costs you your life)

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