on the house

Meaning

Given to a customer for free, paid for by the business (the 'house') rather than the customer. This is commonly used in restaurants, bars, and hotels as a gesture of hospitality, to celebrate an occasion, or to apologize for a mistake.

Examples

• The waiter brought us two glasses of champagne on the house to celebrate our anniversary.

  The waiter brought us two glasses of champagne on the house to celebrate our anniversary.

• Because our food took over an hour to arrive, the manager made our desserts on the house.

  Because our food took over an hour to arrive, the manager made our desserts on the house.

• Don't worry about paying for that drink—it's on the house!

  Don't worry about paying for that drink—it's on the house!

• The hotel gave us a complimentary fruit basket on the house when we checked in.

  The hotel gave us a complimentary fruit basket on the house when we checked in.

• Is this extra appetizer on the house, or did you accidentally charge us for it?

  Is this extra appetizer on the house, or did you accidentally charge us for it?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The drinks are on the restaurant.

  ✓ The drinks are on the house.

  'On the house' is a fixed idiomatic expression. You cannot substitute 'house' with 'restaurant' or 'bar'.

• ✗ They gave us free coffees on house.

  ✓ They gave us free coffees on the house.

  Always include the definite article 'the' in this idiom: 'on the house'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Since they messed up our reservation, the manager said our dinner tonight is ___.

  💡 Free of charge, paid for by the establishment.

  Show answer

  on the house

• Here are some extra chocolates for your kids, completely ___!

  💡 Given for free by the business.

  Show answer

  on the house