scot-free

See also: scotfree

English
WOTD – 8 September 2010

Alternative forms
  • scotfree, scott free
  • scotchfree, skot fre (both obsolete)

Etymology

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

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌskɒtˈfɹi/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˌskɑtˈfɹi/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Audio (AU)(file)
  • Rhymes: -iː

Adverb

scot-free (not comparable)

  1. (colloquial) Without consequences or penalties, to go free without payment.
    Synonym: beat the rap
    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 1227554849:
      [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.
    • 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 0362-4331:
      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.”
  2. (archaic) Free of scot, free of tax.

Translations

References
  1. Mair, Victor (2022-10-26), “Scot-free”, in Language Log‎, University of Pennsylvania, retrieved 2022-10-26
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