On the house or on the loose (4)

Latest answer — September 29, 2026

21 Down

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Clue explained

FREE fits both expressions: something “on the house” is free of charge, while someone “on the loose” is free and unrestricted. The clue is a double phrase definition.

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom
A visual pairing of a complimentary meal and a person moving freely outdoors.

Guardian Quick Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, September 29, 2026 appearance

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Male role model (6,6)
  2. 9Company member (5)
  3. 10Struck out (7)
  4. 11Cry or customer? (4)
  5. 12Jelly and ice cream, say (8)
  6. 14Get together (4,2)
  7. 15Sweet or savoury dish with an airy texture (6)
  8. 18Sufficient (8)
  9. 20Find one on the floor? - mah-jong piece (4)
  10. 22Spoilsport (7)
  11. 23One of the Montagues - or Beckhams (5)
  12. 24Breaking the rules - I decode Ibsen (anag) (12)

Down

  1. 2Perennial with fern-like foliage and feathery flowers - bestial (anag) (7)
  2. 3At this point (4)
  3. 4Show embarrassment (6)
  4. 5It's not how it looks (8)
  5. 6Pronounce - complete (5)
  6. 7Animal bones (12)
  7. 8Hermetically sealed (6-6)
  8. 13Fraudulent business (3-2,3)
  9. 16Earthquake-related (7)
  10. 17Suspended (6)
  11. 19___ Island, former Port of New York immigration station (5)
  12. 21On the house or on the loose (4)

The answer to “On the house or on the loose (4)” in the The Guardian Quick crossword is FREE — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on September 29, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 21-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“On the house or on the loose (4)” answer

FREE (4 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is FREE.

What does FREE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of FREE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(adjective)

  • able to act or be done as one wishes; not under the control of another
  • not or no longer confined or imprisoned
  • not subject to engagements or obligations

When else has “On the house or on the loose (4)” appeared?

The Guardian Quick reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

September 29, 2026 (most recent) → FREE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “On the house or on the loose (4)”?

The answer is FREE, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on September 29, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “On the house or on the loose (4)”?

4 letters: FREE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Guardian Quick crossword on September 29, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 21-Down.

Can “On the house or on the loose (4)” have a different answer?

Yes — The Guardian Quick sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's Guardian Quick answers?

The full grid for September 29, 2026 is on the Guardian Quick answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Guardian Quick Crossword is published by The Guardian; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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