Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

no strings attached

/noʊ ˌstɹɪŋz‿əˈtæt͡ʃt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.91 in modern English

Syllables: no strings at-tached
IPA: /noʊ ˌstɹɪŋz‿əˈtæt͡ʃt/

24

Scrabble Score

17

Letters

2

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

Without conditions or obligations; without a catch.

Informal

Example Sentences

"For a friend I’ll help out for free, no strings attached."
"In the present century marriage is preceded by a betrothment, gifts are usually interchanged (but with no strings attached), and a causeless withdrawal therefrom by either party is considered infamous."
"Mr. [James Gillespie] Blaine's declination—it is always understood that we assume there is no string attached to his letter—is undoubtedly a wise move on his part."
"Listen. We've kept it quiet, but she's in with the elect on French Hill. Her claim's prospected the richest of the outfit. Present indication half a million at least. In her own name, no strings attached. Couldn't she take that and go anywhere in the world and reinstate herself?"
""No," I assured him, after receiving his cordial welcome, "my offer had no string attached. I'm more than ready to help in any way I can, to find a niche for you in this old town and fit you into it. It doesn't matter where you hail from, or how you got here; New York is an all-comers' race, and the devil take the hindmost.""
"Would he ask her out (if he ever did) just for herself, no strings attached?"

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.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /noʊ ˌstɹɪŋz‿əˈtæt͡ʃt/
British English: /nəʊ ˌstɹɪŋz‿əˈtæt͡ʃt/

Usage

Informal

Inflected Forms

no string attached (alternative) NSA (alternative)

Phrases

no strings no-strings-attached string attached no questions asked quid pro quo pull the strings

Frequently Paired Words

no questions asked quid pro quo pull the strings

Synonyms

unconditionally ziplessly

Rhymes With

attached matched detached scratched snatched patched unmatched mismatched despatched unattached batched

Questions

How do you pronounce no strings attached?: The recorded pronunciation is /noʊ ˌstɹɪŋz‿əˈtæt͡ʃt/.
What does no strings attached mean?: Without conditions or obligations; without a catch.
Where does no strings attached come from?: 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.

How to pronounce no strings attached

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