Synonyms

scot-free

American

[skot-free] / ˈskɒtˈfri /

adjective

completely free from harm, restraint, punishment, or obligation.

The driver of the car escaped from the accident scot-free. The judge let the defendant off scot-free.

scot-free British

adverb

(predicative) without harm, loss, or penalty

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of scot-free

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; see origin at scot, -free

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

ULA’s design means large losses may be heavily taxed while big gains go scot free.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2025

"Whether he knew about it or not, Eric was married and quite a lot older than my mum. Then he went off to Australia. I think he got off scot free," she says.

From BBC • Jul. 18, 2020

On this basis, prosecutors declined to try the case and the McMichaels appeared to go scot free.

From Slate • May 19, 2020

So either the wrongdoers got off scot free, or the SEC shouldn’t have brought the case it did against the company.

From BusinessWeek • Feb. 10, 2011

And the big yeller dog that had caused all the trouble got off scot free.

From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023