Phrase guide

no strings attached

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /nəʊ ˌstɹɪŋz‿əˈtæt͡ʃt/
  • General-American: /noʊ ˌstɹɪŋz‿əˈtæt͡ʃt/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ætʃt

1

phrase

Meaning 1

Without conditions or obligations; without a catch.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • For a friend I’ll help out for free, no strings attached.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unconditionally, ziplessly

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From strings (“(figurative) conditions, limitations, restrictions”), possibly from an old prank where a money purse with a hidden string would be placed on the ground, and pulled away when someone tried to pick it up.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ilman sitoumuksia — without conditions or obligations
  • French: sans contrepartie — without conditions or obligations
  • German: bedingungslos — without conditions or obligations
  • German: ohne Bedingungen — without conditions or obligations
  • German: ohne Haken und Ösen — without conditions or obligations
  • German: ohne jegliche Verpflichtung — without conditions or obligations
  • German: vollkommen unverbindlich — without conditions or obligations
  • Italian: senza se e senza ma — without conditions or obligations
  • Navajo: doo bidiitʼiʼii — without conditions or obligations
  • Polish: bez zobowiązań — without conditions or obligations
  • Russian: без всяких условий (bez vsjakix uslovij) — without conditions or obligations
  • Spanish: sin ataduras — without conditions or obligations
  • Spanish: sin compromiso — without conditions or obligations
  • Vietnamese: rộng cẳng — without conditions or obligations