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Definition of scot-free adverb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

scot-free

adverb

/ˌskɒt ˈfriː/

/ˌskɑːt ˈfriː/

(informal)

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without receiving the punishment you deserve
- They got off scot-free because of lack of evidence.
Topics Crime and punishmentc2
Word OriginThis idiom comes from the old English word ‘scot’ meaning ‘tax’. People were scot-free if they didn’t have to pay the tax.

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See scot-free in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Check pronunciation: scot-free

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noun

From the Word list

B2

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