"TANSTAAFL" meaning in All languages combined

See TANSTAAFL on Wiktionary

Phrase [English]

Forms: tanstaafl [alternative], TINSTAAFL [alternative]
Etymology: Acronym, originating in the early 20th century, and popularized by Robert Heinlein's novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. Head templates: {{head|en|phrase}} TANSTAAFL
  1. Acronym of there ain't no such thing as a free lunch; something advertised as being "free" will invariably have hidden costs. Wikipedia link: Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress Tags: abbreviation, acronym, alt-of Alternative form of: there ain't no such thing as a free lunch (extra: something advertised as being "free" will invariably have hidden costs)
    Sense id: en-TANSTAAFL-en-phrase-BNnLLn72 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries

Alternative forms

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  "etymology_text": "Acronym, originating in the early 20th century, and popularized by Robert Heinlein's novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "tanstaafl",
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  "lang_code": "en",
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          "extra": "something advertised as being \"free\" will invariably have hidden costs",
          "word": "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch"
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      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1966, Robert Heinlein, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress:",
          "text": "\"Gospodin,\" he said presently, \"you used an odd word earlier--odd to me, I mean...\"\n\"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.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1985, Lance Parkin, The Infinity Doctors, page 229:",
          "text": "'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.'",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1985, David Allen Baldwin, “National Power and Economic Statecraft”, in Economic Statecraft, →ISBN, page 140:",
          "text": "The TANSTAAFL principle applies to all techniques of statecraft, not just the economic ones.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2015, Bob McCarthy, “Calibration”, in Sound System Design and Optimization, →ISBN, page 433:",
          "text": "The TANSTAAFL principle will come into play with each implementation of a calibration setting. There are no effects without side-effects. An improvement at one location will change others.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Acronym of there ain't no such thing as a free lunch; something advertised as being \"free\" will invariably have hidden costs."
      ],
      "id": "en-TANSTAAFL-en-phrase-BNnLLn72",
      "links": [
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{
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  "forms": [
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      "form": "tanstaafl",
      "tags": [
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    },
    {
      "form": "TINSTAAFL",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
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    }
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  "head_templates": [
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  "lang_code": "en",
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  "senses": [
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        }
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      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1966, Robert Heinlein, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress:",
          "text": "\"Gospodin,\" he said presently, \"you used an odd word earlier--odd to me, I mean...\"\n\"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.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1985, Lance Parkin, The Infinity Doctors, page 229:",
          "text": "'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.'",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1985, David Allen Baldwin, “National Power and Economic Statecraft”, in Economic Statecraft, →ISBN, page 140:",
          "text": "The TANSTAAFL principle applies to all techniques of statecraft, not just the economic ones.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2015, Bob McCarthy, “Calibration”, in Sound System Design and Optimization, →ISBN, page 433:",
          "text": "The TANSTAAFL principle will come into play with each implementation of a calibration setting. There are no effects without side-effects. An improvement at one location will change others.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
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        "Acronym of there ain't no such thing as a free lunch; something advertised as being \"free\" will invariably have hidden costs."
      ],
      "links": [
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    }
  ],
  "word": "TANSTAAFL"
}

Download raw JSONL data for TANSTAAFL meaning in All languages combined (2.4kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable All languages combined dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-03-01 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-02-21 using wiktextract (7c21d10 and f2e72e5). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

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