Abbreviation

A common shorthand for the colloquialism "There ain't no such things as a free lunch" implying that anything, as free as it may appear, has a real hidden cost.

(SMS)

Fred: WTF!? My stay was comped, but at checkout they charged me 4 the cable, phone, and internet!

Barney: TANSTAAFL

TANSTAAFL by Guesty Sueless May 31, 2010

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tanstaafl

There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

tanstaafl by Flamin Homer May 31, 2003

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TNSTAAFL

/TAN-staf-ful/ intj,n,v: "There's no such thing as a free lunch." Coined from Robert Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land." Ended up on the Martian flag.

Also appears in several other Heinlein novels, including "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress," where all restaurants served the meal free, but charged heftily for beverages, etc.

More widely used around the time the book was first published, but can still be found circulating in dark basement apartments and gaming stores everywhere.

"I told you she'd be wanting payback for those smokes, man. TNSTAAFL."

"I answered that ad for a free RAZR and now all I get in my inbox is spam. TNSTAAFL strikes again."

"That new pizza joint totally TNSTAAFLed us."

TNSTAAFL by somnambulist June 11, 2006

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tanstaach

acronym, also used as interjection, standing for:

there ain't no such thing as a champagne hangover

usually used, when people brag about their champagne consumption, esp. after they drunk large amounts of champagne for free. see also: domp

a: man, I've got such a hangover from last nigh's champagne galore, i really did domp me through

b: tanstaach!

a: wtf?

c: there ain't no such thing as a champagne hangover!

tanstaach by pfenech October 2, 2009

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TANSTAAFL

T.here A.in't N.o S.uch T.hing A.s A. F.ree L.unch
Something advertised as being "free" will invariably have hidden costs.

Kid: Woah, why does Facebook have a whole bunch of Ads on their site all of a sudden?
Teacher: TANSTAAFL

TANSTAAFL by JBLuverxo<3 November 18, 2011

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Oblication

A vacation, feeling more like an obligation, that involves visiting or staying with family.

So Joe where are you taking the kids for spring break vacation? We are going on an oblication to Boca to visit my mother-in-law.

Oblication by kimmerr May 5, 2011

Word of the Day on October 25, 2026

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Surf Dracula Syndrome

A phenomenon in film/television series, most notably streaming series, where the main premise is drawn out to such a point that it takes an entire season or more to get the parts of the series the audience is actually interested in seeing.

For example, if a series is titled "Surf Dracula," a majority of viewers would tune in expecting to see Dracula surfing by the first or second episode. However, the entire first season would instead be tedious padding and backstory before finally ending with Dracula surfing in the last five minutes of the season finale.

I watched "Smallville" on Netflix the other day. Dude, it was ten seasons of filler before he finally flew! Major Surf Dracula Syndrome!

Surf Dracula Syndrome by AOmundson June 18, 2023

Word of the Day on October 24, 2026

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Northstarring

Finding your way back to the truth by fixing on one verified fact and working out from there, the way you navigate by the North Star when everything around you is spinning.

Rumours were flying everywhere, so she went northstarring — one checked fact at a time.

Northstarring by Light Bearer October 22, 2026

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Plate of Brown

A plate of brown consists of foods that have little to no nutritional value, and are typically deep fried. A true plate of brown will also be accompanied by a dark soda.

Wanna go to meal hall & grab a plate of brown?

Plate of Brown by Cheddar Craigson September 18, 2020

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Larpenomics

When finance content creators rent out fancy cars and flex cash to seem richer than they really are in order to promote and sell their “get rich quick” courses.

Andrew Tate has mastered the field of larpenomics

Larpenomics by Rbois09 October 21, 2026

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Palmela Handerson

Your hand that you masturbate with.

Girlfriend: What are you going to do for the next week while I'm on holiday?

Boyfriend: Have a visit from Palmela Handerson of course!

Palmela Handerson by One eyed wombat June 13, 2018

Word of the Day on October 20, 2026

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