tanstaafl

1. Alternative letter-case form of TANSTAAFL.

   Hadn't realized “Free Luna” was going to have taxes. Hadn't had any before and got along. You paid for what you got. Tanstaafl. How else?

   1966, Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

alternative tanstaafl · alternative TINSTAAFL

1. abbreviationacronymAcronym of there ain't no such thing as a free lunch: something advertised as being "free" will invariably have hidden costs.

   The TANSTAAFL principle applies to all techniques of statecraft, not just the economic ones.

   1985, David Allen Baldwin, “National Power and Economic Statecraft”, in Economic Statecraft, →ISBN, page 140

   3 more examples

   "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."

   1966, Robert Heinlein, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress

   '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.'

   1985, Lance Parkin, The Infinity Doctors, page 229

   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.

   2015, Bob McCarthy, “Calibration”, in Sound System Design and Optimization, →ISBN, page 433