get away scot-free

To escape from some predicament, accusation, or wrongdoing without incurring any penalty or punishment; to be acquitted of all charges for some crime or crimes. It sickens me that all these bankers that ruined our economy get away scot-free, even though they caused millions of people to suffer. Due to an error in the filing of evidence by police, the suspect ending up getting away scot-free. I can't believe the jury let that creep get away scot-free. How much more evidence did they need?

get off

1. To physically climb off of or disembark from something. We're in the last row, so it’s going to take us a while to get off the plane. Get off that ladder before you fall and hurt yourself! Get off the couch and start helping me already.

2. To remove someone or something from some surface. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "get" and "off." Hey, get your feet off the table! Can you get your stuff off my bed? I can't get the cat off the couch. It's like she can sense we're going to the vet!

3. To depart. When do you guys get off on your trip? A: "Did Mom get off yet?" B: "No, she doesn't leave for Sacramento till tomorrow afternoon." I'm afraid I need to get off now, or else I'll miss the train!

4. To shoot ammunition. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "get" and "off." I could only get off one shot before the burglars fled. Luckily, the robbers had terrible aim—they got off a bunch of shots and missed the victim entirely. I couldn't get a shot off at the criminal because I would have also endangered the hostage.

5. In sports, to successfully complete an action, such as a shot or pass, before time expires or contact is made. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "get" and "off." I'm not sure he got off that shot before the buzzer went off. It will be difficult for him to get a pass off with all of this defensive pressure. As long as we win the face-off, one of our players can get a shot off before time runs out.

6. To send something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "get" and "off." Have you gotten off that email yet? If not, I have a few more lines to add. You better get that check off—the rent is due by the end of the week! It's never good to get an email off in anger. Wait till you've calmed down before you say anything to him.

7. To physically remove something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "get" and "off." I just can't seem to get this sticky stuff off the floor. Get off those wet clothes before you catch cold! I think it's physically impossible to get glitter off of pretty much any surface.

8. To receive a less severe punishment or avoid punishment altogether. I can't believe that known criminal got off with such a light sentence. You're only grounded for a week? You got off easy if you ask me. As a prosecutor, I know what it's like when someone who I know is guilty gets off.

9. To cause someone to receive a less severe punishment or avoid punishment altogether. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "get" and "off." Do you really think you can get this guy off with a lighter sentence? Can you please get my son off with a warning? He really didn't have much to do with the prank at all. I need your help, sir, because I know you've gotten other murder suspects off without any jail time.

10. To finish one's workday. I get off today at three, so I'll stop by on my way home. I'm falling asleep at my desk already, and I don't get off for another seven hours. Ugh. A: "Hey, why don't we hang out this afternoon? When do you get off?" B: "Not till 6:00, unfortunately."

11. To stop bothering or nagging someone. Get off my back, will you? I'm working as fast as I can! If he doesn't get off my case soon, I'm going to lose it. Would you get off my back? I told you I'd take out the trash, and I will.

12. To be so bold as to do something. She's not my boss, so where does she get off assigning me yet another project? Where do you get off telling me what to do? You're not Mom! Excuse me, but where do you get off pushing your way to the front of the line?

13. slang To be or become particularly excited by or enthusiastic about something, especially in, or likened to, a sexual manner. Can be considered vulgar. It seems like Kaya gets off on the power of her new corporate management role. I don't know why you get off on going to the gym every day—it just seems like a chore to me! Of course Lou gets off on telling us what to do. Who doesn't love having minions to boss around?

14. slang To have an amorous or sexual encounter with someone. Primarily heard in UK. We weren't at the party for more than 30 minutes when Jake got off with some guy he'd just met. I heard Janet got off with one of her co-workers. I know you're attracted to your boss, but here's a life lesson—do not get off with anyone who signs your paychecks!

15. vulgar slang To experience orgasm. I don't think I'll sleep with him again—I didn't get off the last time. Please, a hot guy like that isn't looking for a relationship, he just wants to get off with someone.

16. vulgar slang To cause someone to experience orgasm. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "get" and "off." I don't think I'll sleep with him again—he didn't get me off the last time. If he didn't actually get you off, don't fake it. I mean, can't we have an honest conversation with our significant others about pleasure in the bedroom?

See also: get, off

get off scot-free

To escape punishment for a crime or wrongdoing; to be acquitted of charges for a crime. Mark's wealthy senator uncle influenced the jury, and he ended up getting off scot-free. My younger sister caused endless trouble as a child, but because she was the baby of the house, she usually got off scot-free. I can't believe the jury let that creep get off scot-free. How much more evidence did they need?

See also: get, off

go scot-free

To escape from some predicament, accusation, or wrongdoing without incurring any penalty or punishment; to be acquitted of all charges for some crime or crimes. It sickens me that all these bankers that ruined our economy get to go scot-free, while millions of people have suffered as a result. Due to an error in the filing of evidence by police, the suspect ending up going scot-free. I can't believe the jury let that creep go scot-free. How much more evidence did they need?

pay scot and lot (for something)

obsolete To pay the full amount of money owed (for something). Make sure they've paid scot and lot before they're given they're full order.

walk away scot-free

To escape from some predicament, accusation, or wrongdoing without incurring any penalty or punishment; to be acquitted of all charges for some crime or crimes. It sickens me that all these bankers who ruined our economy get to walk away scot-free, while millions of people have suffered as a result. Due to an error in the filing of evidence by police, the suspect ended up walking away scot-free.

get off

1. to start off (on a friendship). Tom and Bill had never met before. They seemed to get off all right, though. I'm glad they got off so well.

2. to leave; to depart. What time did they get off? We have to get off early in the morning before the traffic gets heavy.

3. Go to get off (easy); get off (of) someone or something; get off (of) something; get off something; get off to something; get off with something.

See also: get, off

get off (easy)

and get off (lightly)

to receive very little punishment (for doing something wrong). It was a serious crime, but Mary got off easy. Billy's punishment was very light. Considering what he did, he got off lightly.

See also: get, off

get off (with something)

to receive only a light punishment for something. Let's hope John gets off with a light sentence. Max got off with only a few years in prison.

See also: get, off

get off

(of) someone or something and get off to get down from someone or something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Please get off of me. I can't play piggyback anymore. Get off of the sofa!

See also: get, off

get off

(of) something and get off Inf. to stop discussing the topic that one is supposed to be discussing [and start discussing something else]; to stray from the topic at hand. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) I wish you wouldn't get off the subject so much. This writer gets off of his topic all the time.

See also: get, off

get off

(something) to climb down from something. Please get off the stairs. You know you shouldn't play on the stairs. I wish that the children would get off that ladder before they fall off.

See also: get, off

get off

(to something) to leave for something. I've got to get off to my violin lesson. We have to get off to the hospital immediately!

See also: get, off

get off (with something)

to receive only a light punishment for something. Let's hope John gets off with a light sentence. Max got off with only a few years in prison.

See also: get, off

get someone off

1. to get someone cleared of a criminal charge. Ted's lawyer got him off, although we all knew he was guilty. I hope someone can get her off. She is innocent no matter how it looks.

2. to get someone freed from a responsibility. (See also get off the hook.) I think I can get you off. What do I need to do to get myself off?

See also: get, off

get someone or something off someone or something

and get someone or something off

to remove someone or something from someone, oneself, or something. Come in and get those wet clothes off. Get him off of me!

See also: get, off

get something off (to someone or something)

and get something off

to send something to someone or something. I have to get a letter off to Aunt Mary. Did you get off all your packages?

See also: get, off

go scot-free

and get off scot-free

to go unpunished; to be acquitted of a crime. (This scot is an old word meaning "tax" or "tax burden.") The thief went scot-free. Jane cheated on the test and got caught, but she got off scot-free.

get off

1. Dismount, leave a vehicle, as in She got off the horse right away, or Let's get off the train at the next stop. [Late 1600s]

2. Start, as on a trip; leave. For example, We got off at the crack of dawn. [Mid-1700s]

3. Fire a round of ammunition; also, send away. For example, He got off two shots, but the deer fled, or I got off that letter just in time.

4. Escape from punishment; also, obtain a lesser penalty or release for someone. For example, He apologized so profusely that he was sure to get off, or The attorney got her client off with a slap on the wrist. This sense is sometimes amplified to get off easy or get off lightly. Where there is no punishment at all, the expression is sometimes put as get off scot-free, originally meaning "be free from paying a fine or tax ( scot)," dating from the 1500s. [Mid-1600s]

5. Remove, take off, as in I can't seem to get this paint off the car. [Second half of 1600s]

6. Succeed in uttering, especially a joke. For example, Carl always manages to get off a good one before he gets serious. [Mid-1800s]

7. Have the effrontery to do or say something. For example, Where does he get off telling me what to do? [Colloquial; early 1900s]

8. Experience orgasm, as in She never did get off. [Slang; first half of 1900s]

9. Also, get off of one. Stop bothering or criticizing one, as in Get off me right now! or If you don't get off of me I'm walking out. [Slang; c. 1940] Also see get off on; off one's back.

See also: get, off

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

get off/go ˌscot-ˈfree

(informal) escape from a situation without receiving the punishment you deserve: It seemed so unfair that she was punished while the others got off scot-free!This idiom comes from the old English word sceot, meaning a ‘tax’. People were scot-free if they didn’t have to pay the tax.

get off

1. To remove oneself from something that supports, carries, or holds: I got off my chair and ran down the hall. After we got off the plane, we picked up our baggage. Get off the couch!

2. To remove something from a supporting, carrying, or holding thing: Get the cat off the table!

3. To start, as on a trip; leave. It took so long to pack that we didn't get off until noon.

4. To send something; transmit something: I'll get a letter off to you next week.

5. To cause something to be emitted, as when firing a weapon: The hunter got off two shots before the deer disappeared. The archer got three arrows off before hitting the bull's-eye.

6. To escape, as from punishment or danger: They thought the judge would sentence them harshly, but somehow they got off.

7. To obtain a release or lesser penalty for someone: The attorney got her client off with just a small fine.

8. To get permission to leave one's workplace: The sales crew got off early and went out for a walk.

9. Slang To stop pressuring, pestering, or domineering someone: The boss thought the employees were lazy and didn't get off them the whole day. Get off me!—I can't work with you watching over me.

10. Slang To feel great pleasure or gratification from something: They really got off on that roller coaster ride at the amusement park. I don't really get off on photography.

11. Slang To cause someone to feel great pleasure or gratification; satisfy someone: That movie really didn't get me off.

12. Vulgar Slang To achieve orgasm.

13. Vulgar Slang To cause someone to achieve orgasm.

See also: get, off

get off

verb

See get off on something

See also: get, off

pay scot and lot

To pay in full.

go scot-free, to

To be let off without penalty or punishment. This expression has nothing to do with Scotland, but rather with the early meaning of scot, that is, a tax assessment. Thus scot-free meant not having to make such a payment, and later was extended to mean being exempted from other kinds of obligation, including punishment. The earliest use of the term dates from the Magna Carta of 1215. Later it was transferred to nonlegal issues, as in Samuel Richardson’s novel Pamela (1740): “She should not, for all the trouble she has cost you, go away scot-free.”