scot-free
adverb /ˌskɒt ˈfriː/
/ˌskɑːt ˈfriː/
(informal)- without receiving the punishment you deserve
- They got off scot-free because of lack of evidence.
Word OriginThis idiom comes from the old English word ‘scot’ meaning ‘tax’. People were scot-free if they didn’t have to pay the tax.Topics Crime and punishmentc2Word Originfrom the early sense ‘not subject to the payment of scot.’