attached

To connect two things. In this usage, an item can be mentioned between "attach" and "to." Can you please attach this button to my sweater? Please be sure to attach a cover page to your report. Mom, the teacher said that the check needs to be attached to our permission slip!

To have an emotional connection to someone or something. This usage always uses the form "attached." I really miss my ex-boyfriend at Christmastime—I guess I'm still attached to him after all. I'm pretty attached to the idea of a tropical vacation—I've even been picturing myself on the beach! I tried to give away my daughter's childhood teddy bear, but apparently she's still quite attached to it.

To have no special conditions, restrictions, obligations, or arrangements that must be met. The bill has no strings attached, so it should easily pass the Senate. This sounds like a superb deal—I just hope it doesn't have any strings attached.

To have one or more special conditions, restrictions, obligations, or arrangements that must be met. The Republicans in the Senate are willing to allow the bill to pass, but you can be sure that the final draft will have several strings attached. This sounds like a superb deal—I just hope it doesn't have any strings attached.

With or having no special conditions, restrictions, obligations, or arrangements that must be met. Take advantage of our huge summer sale, where you can earn up to $5,000 cash back. No strings attached! Beware of any deal that claims to come with no strings attached.

One or more conditions, restrictions, obligations, or arrangements that must be met for one to attain something that they desire. The Senate is willing to allow the bill to pass, but you can be sure that the final draft will have several strings attached. I want to help him, but I'm worried that there will be strings attached.

Having no special conditions, restrictions, obligations, or arrangements that must be met. Take advantage of our huge summer sale, where you can earn up to $5,000 cash back with no strings attached! Beware of any deal that claims to come with no strings attached.

Having one or more special conditions, restrictions, obligations, or arrangements that must be met. Members of the majority party are willing to allow the bill to pass, but with strings. He was willing to give a hefty campaign donation, with strings: that his company's interests be put before others during legislative debates.

Having one or more special conditions, restrictions, obligations, or arrangements that must be met. The Republicans in the Senate are willing to allow the bill to pass, but with strings attached.

Having no special conditions, restrictions, obligations, or arrangements that must be met. I hear Janet is signing over the deed to her house to John without any strings attached! Take advantage of our huge summer sale, where you can earn up to $5,000 cash back without any strings attached!

Fig. unconditionally; with no obligations or conditions attached. My parents gave me use of their car without any strings attached. I will accept this job only if there are no strings attached.

Without conditions or restrictions, as in They give each of the children $10,000 a year with no strings attached. This expression dates from the mid-1900s, although string in the sense of "a limitation" has been used since the late 1800s.

COMMON If you say that an offer of help comes with no strings attached or without strings, you mean that accepting the offer does not require you to do a particular thing or give something in return. I think this is an extremely generous offer. There are no strings attached and I will recommend that everyone accepts. I am grateful to them for their co-operation, which was also given with absolutely no strings attached. We must reduce our dependence on government money, which never comes without strings.

You can say that an offer is with strings or with strings attached if accepting it requires you to do a particular thing or give something in return. We cannot accept donations with strings attached. More often than not, aid comes with strings that bind the recipient to unfair relationships in the international market.

With some condition or limitation. This term originated simply as “a string” in the second half of the 1800s; “attached” was added a few decades later. Sandra Brown used it in her novel Alibi (1999): “His fantasy evening with the most exciting woman he had ever met not only came with strings attached, but those strings were probably going to form a noose that would ultimately hang him.” The term is also used in the negative, no strings attached, as in “They made a huge donation to the college with no strings attached; it was to be used however it was needed.”