phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb

get away with

to escape punishment for

What it means

To do something wrong, dishonest, or risky without being caught, punished, or criticised. It is inseparable, common in informal speech, and often suggests the speaker is impressed or annoyed.

Examples

  • I can't believe he got away with cheating on the exam.
  • You won't get away with talking to your sister like that.
  • She gets away with wearing jeans to the office, but I can't.
  • Some politicians seem to get away with anything they say.

Where it comes from

From literal 'getting away' (escaping), with 'with' carrying the sense of taking the wrongdoing along unpunished. In common figurative use since the 1800s.

Related phrasal verbs

#get away#run away#break out#pay back

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