Idiom
On the house
If something is on the house, the business gives it to you for free.
How people use it
People use it in restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels: "Dessert is on the house." Staff often say it to apologize for a problem or to thank regular customers. In this phrase, "the house" means the business, not anyone's home. The tone is informal and friendly. It applies to something a business pays for, so a friend paying for your lunch is not on the house.
Examples
- The waiter said our coffees were on the house because the order was late.
- To celebrate its tenth year, the bakery handed out cookies on the house.
- The hotel upgraded our room on the house.
Where it comes from
In this phrase, "the house" means the establishment, such as a tavern, inn or casino. The expression appeared in the late 1800s, especially in American bars, where the owner would sometimes buy a round of drinks for the customers at the house's expense.
Check yourself
1. If the server says your dessert is on the house, what does it mean?
Answer: It is free. On the house means the business pays for it.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: The cafe owner said the birthday cake was on the house.. The owner gives the cake for free.
Similar idioms
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