have strings attached

have 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.
See also: attached, have, string
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • with strings
  • with strings attached
  • strings attached
  • no strings attached
  • with no strings attached
  • have no strings attached
  • without any strings attached
  • no strings
  • arrangement
  • make arrangements to do