Cool MateComplimentary vs On the house
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Complimentary
Top 3,000 (common)
On the house
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: ComplimentaryMost common: On the house
| Complimentary | On the house | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kəmˈplɪməntri//🇺🇸 //kəmˈplɪməntəri// | 🇬🇧 //ɒn ðə haʊs//🇺🇸 //ɑn ðə haʊs// |
| Meaning | Something that is free or praises someone. | Something is free and paid by the owner. |
| Example | The hotel offered complimentary breakfast to all guests. | The drinks tonight are on the house, so enjoy! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | complimentary service, complimentary gift, complimentary remarks, complimentary offer, complimentary ticket | on the house drinks, on the house food, on the house service, on the house offer, on the house bill |
| Antonyms | critical, disparaging | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'complementary'; they have different meanings., Used incorrectly to refer to something that is not free or praise., Omitting the context when saying 'complimentary' can lead to misunderstanding. | Believing it only refers to drinks., Confusing it with 'on the job', which means working., Using it in formal situations where it's inappropriate. |
| Usage notes | Use 'complimentary' to describe praises given or items provided for free. It's suitable for formal and neutral contexts, but avoid in informal conversations. | Used in informal settings, especially in hospitality, to indicate that a service or item is free. Not suitable for formal contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Complimentary vs On the house
What's the difference between Complimentary and On the house?
Complimentary: Something that is free or praises someone. On the house: Something is free and paid by the owner.
Which is more formal: Complimentary and On the house?
Complimentary is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Complimentary and On the house?
On the house is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Complimentary: The hotel offered complimentary breakfast to all guests. On the house: The drinks tonight are on the house, so enjoy!
Can I use Complimentary and On the house interchangeably?
Not always. Complimentary and On the house are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.