scot-free
adverb /ˌskɒt ˈfriː/
/ˌskɑːt ˈfriː/
(informal)- without receiving the punishment you deserve
逃脱惩罚；逍遥法外 - They got off scot-free because of lack of evidence.
由于证据不足，他们得以逍遥法外。
词源This idiom comes from the old English word ‘scot’ meaning ‘tax’. People were scot-free if they didn’t have to pay the tax.Topics Crime and punishmentc2词源from the early sense ‘not subject to the payment of scot.’ - They got off scot-free because of lack of evidence.