free ride
Americannoun
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Informal. something obtained without effort or cost.
The fact that you're the general's sondoesn't mean you'll get a free ride in the army.
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Stud Poker. a round of betting in which each player checks and therefore receives another card without having to contribute any chips to the pot.
Etymology
Origin of free ride
First recorded in 1895–1900
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s had a free ride in a sense.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Arnold Irinco was part of a line of commuters on Thursday morning who were queuing up for a free ride provided by the government.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
Djokovic got a free ride into the Musetti showdown when rising Czech star Jakub Mensik pulled out injured, giving the 38-year-old Serb an extra day's rest.
From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026
That would eliminate the free ride that investors can enjoy by borrowing against their holdings.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2026
Nick became sort of a hero for kids all over town, and he quickly learned that being a hero—even if you’re only a local hero—isn’t a free ride.
From "Frindle" by Andrew Clements
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
