why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Do not expect somebody to make a costly commitment if it will give them nothing they do not already have; used especially as a warning against having sexual intercourse before marriage (or conversely, as encouragement against getting married).
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free” mean?
Do not expect somebody to make a costly commitment if it will give them nothing they do not already have; used especially as a warning against having sexual intercourse before marriage (or conversely, as encouragement against getting married).
Is “why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.