scot-free

alternative scotfree · alternative scott free · alternative obsolete scotchfree · alternative obsolete skot fre · alternative obsolete shot-free

1. colloquialnot comparableWithout consequences or penalties, free without payment.

   to get off scot-free

   5 more examples

   To ſay the Ieſuites are all ſmattred vvith Atheiſme, I vvill not: and to ſay, that any of them all are abſolutely ſcotfree from it, I cannot: it is ſo repugnant from their ovvne principles.

   1602, William Watson, “The IIII. Article”, in A Decacordon of Ten Quodlibeticall Questions Concerning Religion and State: […], [London]: […] [Richard Field], →OCLC, page 110

   [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.

   a. 1664 (date delivered), 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

   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.

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

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

   2021 September 5, Chris McGreal, “Opioids have killed 600,000 Americans. The Sacklers just got off scot-free”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC

   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."

   2022 August 4, Elizabeth Williamson, quoting Mark Bankston, “Jurors award Sandy Hook parents $4 million in damages”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC

comparative more scot-free · superlative most scot-free · alternative scotfree · alternative scott free · alternative obsolete scotchfree · alternative obsolete skot fre · alternative obsolete shot-free

1. archaicFree of scot, free of tax.