What does "Get away with murder" mean?

To escape punishment for bad behavior. To do things that should be punished but aren't—usually because of special treatment.

How do you use "Get away with murder" in a sentence?

He gets away with murder because he's the boss's son. The kids get away with murder around here. She could get away with murder with that smile.

Get away with murder

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: To escape punishment for bad behavior.

逃脱对不良行为的惩罚。

Escapar del castigo por mal comportamiento.

悪い行為の罰を免れる。

나쁜 행동을 하고도 벌을 피하다

To do things that should be punished but aren't—usually because of special treatment.

做了应该受罚的事却不受罚——通常是因为有特殊待遇。

Hacer cosas que deberían ser castigadas pero no lo son, normalmente por trato especial.

本来罰せられるべきことをしても罰を受けないこと。通常は特別扱いのため。

벌을 받아야 할 일을 하고도 벌을 받지 않는 것—보통 특별 대우 때문이다.

Literal meaning: Escape consequences even for murder

Examples

He gets away with murder because he's the boss's son.
他是老板的儿子，所以做什么都不会被罚
Se sale con la suya porque es el hijo del jefe
彼は社長の息子だから何をしても許される
그는 사장 아들이라 뭘 해도 봐준다.
The kids get away with murder around here.
这里的孩子们做什么都不会被罚
Los niños hacen lo que quieren aquí
ここでは子供たちは何をしても許される
여기서는 아이들이 뭘 해도 용서받는다.
She could get away with murder with that smile.
凭那个笑容，她做什么都能逃脱惩罚
Con esa sonrisa podría salirse con cualquier cosa
あの笑顔なら何でも許されるだろう
저 미소면 뭘 해도 용서받겠다.

Pronunciation

/ɡet əˈweɪ wɪð ˈmɜːdə/

Usage Guide

Context: unpunished, special treatment, unfair

Tone: resentful, observational

✓ Do Say

Gets away with murder.
什么都能逃脱惩罚
Se sale con la suya
何をしても許される
뭘 해도 봐주더라
Could get away with murder.
什么都能混过去
Podría salirse con cualquier cosa
何でも許されるだろう
뭘 해도 용서받을 거야
They get away with murder.
他们什么都能逃脱
Se salen con la suya
彼らは何をしても許される
그들은 뭘 해도 넘어가

✗ Don't Say

Goes unpunished
Goes unpunished（不受惩罚）
Goes unpunished（Queda sin castigo）
Goes unpunished（罰せられない）
Goes unpunished（처벌받지 않는）
Has special treatment
Has special treatment（有特殊待遇）
Has special treatment（Tiene trato especial）
Has special treatment（特別扱いを受ける）
Has special treatment（특별 대우를 받는）

Common Mistakes

Hyperbolic—rarely about actual murder
Common expression for unfair treatment

Origin & History

From the extreme case of not being punished even for murder.

Etymology: English idiom

First recorded: 19th century

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: How to Get Away with Murder (TV); Common idiom

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking world.

Variations

Get away with murderGets away with murderCould get away with murder