THERE AIN'T NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH.

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.: translation

There's no such thing as a free lunch. & There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

Prov. Cliché Everything costs something. (Can imply that you should be suspicious of anything that appears to be free.) •

Fred: This advertisement says I can get an expensive camera for free! Jane: Don't be so gullible. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

•

Mary gave me her sewing machine, but I had to give it $100 worth of repairs before I could even use it. There's no such thing as a free lunch.