Scot free

Scot-free

Meaning

Without payment.

Examples

He was lucky that the traffic warden’s pen ran out and he didn’t get a ticket. He got off scot free.

Where did it originate?

Britain, 16th century. Not, as is often thought, related to the American slave Dred Scott.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.