off the hook

Idioms  

1. Also,. Released (or be released) from blame or annoying obligation, as in He was out of town during the robbery so he was off the book, or I don't know how the muggers got off the hook, or Once they found the real culprit, they let Mary off the hook. This idiom alludes to the fish that manages to free itself from the angler's hook and get away. [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

That said, not all of tech is off the hook—among subsectors, semiconductors do pass the bubble test.

From Barron's

“My advice is to go a little easier on yourself. Maybe a lot easier. Cut yourself some slack. Let yourself off the hook, all right?”

From Literature

Southwest Airlines is off the hook for an $11 million fine over its 2022 holiday travel chaos after the Transportation Department waived the penalty due to improvements in the carrier’s performance.

From Barron's

On that day, they managed to pull themselves back from the edge of the cliff to win by a point, but the Pumas were in no mood to let them off the hook here.

From BBC

“AI demand is off the hook,” Chief Executive Bill McDermott said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• able
• at large
• clear
• easy
• independent
• loose
• open
• unfettered
• unrestricted