TANSTAAFL

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Contents 1 English 1.1 Acronym 1.1.1 Usage notes 1.1.2 Quotations

[edit] English

[edit] Acronym

TANSTAAFL

1. (idiomatic) There ain't no such thing as a free lunch; something advertised as being "free" will invariably have hidden costs.

[edit] Usage notes

The most common form is emphatic, with ain't, to convey a stronger jocular connotation than is. Compare to the milder TINSTAAFL.

[edit] Quotations

• 1966, Robert Heinlein, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress,

  "Gospodin," he said presently, "you used an odd word earlier--odd to me, I mean..."

  "Oh, 'tanstaafl.' Means 'There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.' And isn't," I added, pointing to a FREE LUNCH sign across room, "or these drinks would cost half as much. Was reminding her that anything free costs twice as much in long run or turns out worthless."

• 1985, Lance Parkin, The Infinity Doctors, page 229,

  'Tanstaafl. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. We both know that I was brought here for a reason. If we could get down to business.'