scot-free
Definition
- Adverb:
- Without harm, penalty, or punishment: "scot-free" describes escaping a situation completely unharmed, unpunished, or without having to pay any penalty. It is almost always used after the verb "go".
Usage Examples
- (The thief avoided all punishment.)
- (He suffered no injury or legal consequences.)
- (She received no punishment for her actions.)
Advanced Usage
"to get off scot-free": to escape punishment or blame entirely.
- The corrupt official got off scot-free after the trial. (He was acquitted without any penalty.)
"to go scot-free": to avoid any harm or penalty.
- The children went scot-free from the minor collision. (They were completely unharmed.)
Variants and Related Words
- No common variants exist for "scot-free" as it is a fixed compound adverb. It is derived from the Old English word "scot" (a tax or payment) and "free" (without), originally meaning "exempt from paying a tax or scot."
Synonyms
- Unpunished: not subjected to any penalty.
- Unharmed: not injured or damaged.
- Without penalty: free from any legal or financial consequence.
Phrasal Verbs
- "scot-free" is not used as part of a phrasal verb; it is always an adverb following a verb like "go", "get off", "escape", or "walk away".
Related Idioms
To get off scot-free: to avoid punishment or blame completely.
- The main suspect was convicted, but his accomplice got off scot-free. (The accomplice escaped all legal consequences.)
To walk away scot-free: to leave a situation without any harm or penalty.
- He walked away scot-free from the burning car. (He escaped the fire without injury.)