Cool MateOn the house vs Stay with drinks on the house
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
On the house
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Stay with drinks on the house
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: On the house
| On the house | Stay with drinks on the house | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɒn ðə haʊs//🇺🇸 //ɑn ðə haʊs// | 🇬🇧 //steɪ wɪð drɪŋks ɒn ðə haʊs//🇺🇸 //steɪ wɪð drɪŋks ɑn ðə haʊs// |
| Meaning | Something is free and paid by the owner. | Receive free drinks at a place. |
| Example | The drinks tonight are on the house, so enjoy! | The bartender said to stay with drinks on the house during happy hour. |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | on the house drinks, on the house food, on the house service, on the house offer, on the house bill | stay with friends, house special, drinks menu, on the house, happy hour |
| Common mistakes | Believing it only refers to drinks., Confusing it with 'on the job', which means working., Using it in formal situations where it's inappropriate. | Confused with 'stay with drinks' - it's specifically about free drinks., Not using 'on the house' correctly - it must refer to complimentary offerings., Omitting the context - should be used in hospitality situations. |
| Usage notes | Used in informal settings, especially in hospitality, to indicate that a service or item is free. Not suitable for formal contexts. | Commonly used in bars or restaurants to invite guests to enjoy free beverages. May not be appropriate in formal settings. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: On the house vs Stay with drinks on the house
What's the difference between On the house and Stay with drinks on the house?
On the house: Something is free and paid by the owner. Stay with drinks on the house: Receive free drinks at a place.
Which is more common: On the house and Stay with drinks on the house?
On the house is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
On the house: The drinks tonight are on the house, so enjoy! Stay with drinks on the house: The bartender said to stay with drinks on the house during happy hour.
Can I use On the house and Stay with drinks on the house interchangeably?
Not always. On the house and Stay with drinks 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.