intransitive. To gain one's liberty by flight; to get free from detention or control, or from an oppressive or irksome condition. Const. from, †of, o…

intransitive. To evade or avoid punishment, defeat, injury, loss, etc., entirely, or to a specified degree; to escape with or for a specified…

to come out smelling of roses and variants: to emerge from a discreditable situation with an (apparently) unblemished record.