- scot-free
- \ \ see SHOT
Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
scot-free
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Scot free — (scot free), falsch auch scott free (scott free) ist eine idiomatische Wendung in der englischen Sprache, die in Redewendungen wie to get off scot free , to escape scot free oder to go scot free gebraucht wird, die alle so viel bedeuten wie… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Scot-free — [?], a. Free from payment of scot; untaxed; hence, unhurt; clear; safe. [1913 Webster] Do as much for this purpose, and thou shalt pass scot free. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] Then young Hay escaped scot free to Holland. A. Lang. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
scot-free — adverb get away/get off scot free to avoid punishment for doing something that deserves punishment: Criminals such as these cannot be allowed to get away scot free … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
scot-free — [ˌskɔt ˈfri: US ˌska:t ] adv [Date: 1200 1300; Origin: scot tax (13 19 centuries), from Old Norse skot shot, payment ] get away/off scot free informal to avoid being punished although you deserve to be … Dictionary of contemporary English
scot free — If someone escapes scot free, they avoid payment or punishment. Scot is an old word for a tax, so it originally referred to avoiding taxes, though now has a wider sense of not being punished for someone that you have done … The small dictionary of idiomes
scot-free — O.E. scotfreo exempt from royal tax, from scot royal tax, from O.N. skot contribution, reckoning, shot + freo (see FREE (Cf. free)). Related to O.E. sceotan to pay, contribute, Du. schot, Ger. Schoß tax, contribution (see … Etymology dictionary
scot-free — scot′ free′ adj. 1) cvb free from harm, restraint, punishment, or obligation 2) free from payment of scot • Etymology: 1200–50 … From formal English to slang
scot-free — [skät′frē′] adv., adj. 1. free from payment of scot, or tax 2. without being punished or hurt; clear(ly); safe(ly) … English World dictionary
scot-free — ► ADVERB ▪ without suffering any punishment or injury. ORIGIN from obsolete scot «a tax», from an Old Norse word meaning a shot … English terms dictionary
scot-free — free of work or discipline, not asked to pay, get off Four members of the gang were convicted, but two went scot free … English idioms
scot free — Meaning To escape from pursuers or to get off without payment. Origin Ask an American where this phrase comes from and you are likely to be told that it refers to Dred Scott, a slave who crossed from a slave state to a free state . Other… … Meaning and origin of phrases
