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on the house

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on the house

[of something] given away free by a merchant. "Here," said the waiter, "have a cup of coffee on the house." I went to a restaurant last night. I was the ten thousandth customer, so my dinner was on the house.

See also: house, on

on the house

without asking for money We had to wait for a table so they gave us all drinks on the house.

Usage notes: said about food, drink, or services offered by a hotel, restaurant, or bar

See also: house, on

on the house

if food or drink is on the house in a bar or restaurant, it is provided free by the owner We had to wait for a table so they gave us all gin and tonics on the house.

See bring the house down, eat out of house and home

See also: house, on

on the house

At the expense of the establishment, as in This hotel serves an afternoon tea that's on the house. This idiom uses house in the sense of "an inn, tavern, or other building serving the public." [Late 1800s]

See also: house, on

on the house

At the expense of the establishment; free: food and drinks on the house.

See also: house, on