“Freedom isn’t free” is an American idiom. The expression is used to describe sacrifice during times of crisis, being used widely in the United States to express gratitude to the military for defending our freedoms. The phrase is also generally used to describe how Americans responded to the 9/11 attacks and the aftermath of the attacks that our nation came together. The phrase has been used by both conservative and liberals alike to describe the tragedy and the sacrifices of both the American people and its military after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
On a larger note, the idiom expresses gratitude to the military, implicitly stating that the freedoms enjoyed by many citizens in many democracies are possible only through the risks taken and sacrifices made by those in the military. The saying is also often used to convey respect specifically to those who are considered to have given their lives in defense of our freedoms.
