scot-free

• scotfree, scott free
• scotchfree, skot fre, shot-free (all obsolete)

From Middle English scotfre, from Old English scotfrēo (“scot-free; exempt from royal tax or imposts”), equivalent to scot (“payment; contribution; fine”) +‎ -free.[1]

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌskɒtˈfɹi/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌskɑtˈfɹi/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iː

scot-free (not comparable)

1. (colloquial) Without consequences or penalties, free without payment.

   to get off scot-free

   • a. 1664 (date written), Robert Sanderson, “The Preface to the Reader”, in XXXIV Sermons. […], 5th edition, London: […] [A. Clark] for A. Seil, and are to be sold by G. Sawbridge, […], published 1671, →OCLC:

     [T]he Papiſts, profeſſed Enemies of our Church and Religion, eſcaping in the mean vvhile Scot-free, ſeldome or never medled vvithal in any of their Sermons.

   • 1967, United States. Congress. House. Committee on the District of Columbia, Anticrime Legislation, page 38:

     Correct me if I am missuggesting; you stated that there were 28,000 actual serious crimes committed in 1965 —I believe it was that year — and only 1,000 convictions , which means that the chances are, roughly, 28 to 1 of getting off scot free — that one can commit an act of violence, a serious crime, and have a good chance of getting off.

   • 2021 September 5, Chris McGreal, “Opioids have killed 600,000 Americans. The Sacklers just got off scot-free”, in The Guardian‎:

     Opioids have killed 600,000 Americans. The Sacklers just got off scot-free [title]

   • 2022 August 4, Elizabeth Williamson, quoting Mark Bankston, “Jurors Award Sandy Hook Parents $4 Million in Damages”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:

     He added: “It’s been a long journey, and it’s really, really nice to able^[sic] to turn and look at my clients, and say ‘he can’t get off scot-free for this. He can’t. You had a defendant who went into that courtroom and said, ‘I think I should have to pay them a dollar.’ And this jury said no.”

scot-free (comparative more scot-free, superlative most scot-free)

1. (archaic) Free of scot, free of tax.

• beat the rap