off the hook

Idioms and Phrases

Also, get or let off the hook . Released (or be released) from blame or annoying obligation, as in He was out of town during the robbery so he was off the book , or I don't know how the muggers got off the hook , or Once they found the real culprit, they let Mary off the hook . This idiom alludes to the fish that manages to free itself from the angler's hook and get away. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

"The US basically wanted to have China cough up some money for that fund as well. Now they won't be able to do that. That leaves China off the hook," Prof Klein said.

From BBC

Letting them off the hook “sends the wrong message: big banks can still buy get-out-of-jail-free cards for their executives by paying big fines and agreeing to other penalties,” Kelleher commented.

From Los Angeles Times

"I think that anything that gets Putin off the hook in Ukraine, that delivers at least something of a victory, something of a win for him, would be catastrophic for the rest of us."

From Salon

“And now you want to wriggle out of it and inconvenience all these people. It just gets you off the hook with your problem killing fish.”

From BBC

Because so many of the teachers have a cult following, the phone rings off the hook, he added.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• able
• at large
• clear
• easy
• independent
• loose
• open
• unfettered
• unrestricted