Meaning of the word "there is no such thing as a free lunch" in English

What does "there is no such thing as a free lunch" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

there is no such thing as a free lunch

US /ðɛr ɪz noʊ sʌtʃ θɪŋ æz ə fri lʌntʃ/
UK /ðɛər ɪz nəʊ sʌtʃ θɪŋ æz ə friː lʌntʃ/
"there is no such thing as a free lunch" picture

Idiom

used to say that it is not possible to get something for nothing; everything has a cost, even if it is not immediately apparent

Example:
The app is free to download, but you have to pay for features, proving that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
He thought he won a free trip, but he had to attend a long sales pitch; there is no such thing as a free lunch.