string attached

A condition, catch, limitation, caveat, restriction, or requirement

Noun

  1. A condition, catch, limitation, caveat, restriction, or requirement
    • I'll get you that new video game that you want so badly, but there's a string attached; you must also clean your room at least once a week.
    • They were advertising free television sets, but there were a lot of strings attached.
    • As I write this, drivers' union ASLEF has announced yet another series of one-day strikes, because ministers are stupidly insisting that the modest below-inflation pay rise they have offered drivers still comes with...

Origin

From no strings attached.

Forms

strings attached