How do you use "Get off scot-free" in a sentence?

He crashed the company car and got off scot-free. How did she get off scot-free? She was the one who started it. The company polluted the river and got off scot-free — no fines, nothing.

Get off scot-free

Q: What does "Get off scot-free" mean?

To escape punishment or consequences entirely. Used when someone avoids any penalty for something they did wrong. Whether a criminal avoids conviction, a child avoids being grounded, or a coworker avoids blame, getting off scot-free means facing zero consequences. Often said with frustration or envy.

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common informal

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Meaning: To escape punishment or consequences entirely.

完全逃脱惩罚或后果。逍遥法外。

Escapar por completo de un castigo o de las consecuencias.

罰や責任を完全に免れること。おとがめなしで済むこと。

벌이나 책임을 완전히 면하는 것. 아무 처벌 없이 빠져나가는 것.

Used when someone avoids any penalty for something they did wrong. Whether a criminal avoids conviction, a child avoids being grounded, or a coworker avoids blame, getting off scot-free means facing zero consequences. Often said with frustration or envy.

用于描述某人因做错事而完全逃脱了惩罚。无论是罪犯免于定罪、孩子逃过了禁足，还是同事躲过了指责，逍遥法外意味着零后果。通常带有不满或嫉妒的语气。

Se usa cuando alguien evita cualquier penalización por algo que hizo mal. Ya sea un delincuente que evita la condena, un niño que evita un castigo o un compañero de trabajo que evita la culpa, salir impune significa no afrontar ninguna consecuencia. A menudo se dice con frustración o envidia.

悪いことをしたのに一切の罰を免れた時に使う。犯罪者が有罪にならなかったり、子供がお仕置きを免れたり、同僚が責任を回避したりする場合など。苛立ちや羨望を込めて言われることが多い。

누군가가 잘못을 저질렀는데 어떤 처벌도 피할 때 사용한다. 범죄자가 유죄를 면하든, 아이가 벌을 피하든, 동료가 책임을 면하든, 아무 처벌 없이 빠져나간다는 뜻이다. 보통 좌절감이나 부러움을 담아 말한다.

Examples

He crashed the company car and got off scot-free.
他撞了公司的车却安然无事。
Estrelló el coche de la empresa y se fue de rositas.
彼は社用車をぶつけたのに、おとがめなしだった。
그는 회사 차를 들이받고도 아무 처벌도 받지 않았다.
How did she get off scot-free? She was the one who started it.
她怎么就没受到惩罚？明明是她先挑起来的。
¿Cómo es que ella se fue de rositas? Si fue ella quien lo empezó.
なんで彼女はおとがめなしなの？始めたのは彼女なのに。
어떻게 그녀가 처벌을 안 받아? 시작한 건 그녀인데.
The company polluted the river and got off scot-free — no fines, nothing.
那家公司污染了河流却逍遥法外——没有罚款，什么都没有。
La empresa contaminó el río y salió impune: ni multas ni nada.
その会社は川を汚染したのに、罰金もなく完全に逃げおおせた。
그 회사는 강을 오염시키고도 벌금도 없이 완전히 빠져나갔다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: justice, accountability, complaints

Tone: frustrated, indignant

✓ Do Say

He got off scot-free.
He got off scot-free.
Salió impune.
彼はおとがめなしだった。
그는 아무 처벌도 안 받았어.
They can't just get off scot-free.
They can't just get off scot-free.
No pueden salir impunes así como así.
ただで済むわけにはいかない。
그냥 무사히 넘어갈 수는 없지.

✗ Don't Say

Don't spell it 'scott-free' — it has nothing to do with the name Scott
不要拼成 'scott-free'——这个词和 Scott 这个名字毫无关系
No lo escribas 'scott-free': no tiene nada que ver con el nombre Scott
「scott-free」と綴らないこと——Scottという名前とは無関係
'scott-free'라고 쓰지 말 것—이름 Scott과는 아무 관련이 없다

Origin & History

Not related to Scotland. 'Scot' was a medieval tax or payment. Getting off 'scot-free' meant avoiding paying your tax. The phrase has been used in English since the 1100s and became firmly established in American legal and casual speech.

Cultural Context

Era: 1100s-present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal