- idiomatic There ain't no such thing as a free lunch; something advertised as being "free" will invariably have hidden costs.
- Acronym, originating in the early 20th century, and popularized by Robert Heinlein's novel, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. (Wiktionary)
“The acronym TANSTAAFL was used by Robert Heinlein, the science fiction writer, in his 1966 novel,”
“Wealthy taxpayers must have gotten their gains at someone else's expense, since TANSTAAFL.”
“» Heinlein on national health care: TANSTAAFL heinleinblog heinleinblog”
“But then I think that most people who cite TANSTAAFL have never read “Mistress”, have no understanding that it applies only in a closed system, and are still looking for their own free lunches.”
“Heinlein Gets the Last Word" is Kurt Vonnegut's New York Times article on the literary importance of Heinlein and the uncut Stranger in a Strange Land (free registration required, or use our gift to you: username/password = heinlein100/TANSTAAFL).”
“The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein - the concept known as TANSTAAFL, or "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch".”
“I thought of TANSTAAFL when he said that and wonder if he every read THAT book.”
“Somebody threw Bob Heinlein at me, so let me respond with him: TANSTAAFL.”
“TANSTAAFL -- There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.”
“» Heinlein, TANSTAAFL evoked to defend gas tax heinleinblog heinleinblog”
These user-created lists contain the word ‘TANSTAAFL’.
Signs like ;-) are excluded as they wouldn't appear as Wordnik items anyway
Looking for tweets for TANSTAAFL.