get away with

USAGE SUMMARY

"get away with" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to mean to do something wrong or illegal without being caught or reprimanded, like in the example, "The thief was able to get away with stealing the car without ever being caught."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"They get away with murder".

The New York Times

You'd never get away with it".

Independent

How does he get away with this?

The New York Times

They might get away with it.

The Guardian

Anything you can't get away with?

Independent

Could they get away with it?

Independent

Politicians who get away with it.

The New Yorker

You get away with whatever you want.

The New Yorker

What couldn't Courbet get away with?

The New Yorker

always seemed to get away with things.

The New Yorker

Will he get away with it?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ the hyperbolic phrase "get away with murder" when you want to emphasize that someone is allowed to behave very badly without any repercussions.

Common error

Do not use "get away with" when you simply mean to physically depart from a location. While "get away from" refers to distance, "get away with" always requires a secondary object representing the deed you are escaping punishment for.

How to use

Learn how to use "get away with" with practical examples and tips.

How to use

Linguistic Context

As a phrasal verb, "get away with" functions as a transitive unit that requires an object. Ludwig AI identifies it as a combination of the verb "get", the adverb "away" and the preposition "with". It serves as the predicate of a sentence to denote the successful evasion of a penalty.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "get away with" is a highly versatile and "Very common" phrasal verb in the English language. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a grammatically correct way to describe the act of avoiding punishment for a transgression. Whether used in a literal sense regarding crimes or figuratively regarding social behavior, it appears most frequently in News & Media contexts to critique politics, sports and social norms. While it is perfectly acceptable in most writing, authors seeking a more elevated or clinical tone may opt for alternatives like "evade sanctions" or "avoid repercussions". Ultimately, "get away with" remains the standard idiomatic choice for describing those who successfully navigate around the consequences of their actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

escape punishment

Uses more formal vocabulary to describe the act of not being penalized

go scot-free

An idiomatic expression emphasizing a total lack of consequences

evade the consequences

Swaps the phrasal verb for a formal verb and noun construction

manage to avoid

Adds a layer of effort or luck to the act of evasion

pull off

Focuses on the successful execution of the act rather than just the evasion

cheat justice

Carries a stronger moral judgment against the person avoiding punishment

dodge the blame

Specifically refers to avoiding responsibility rather than just the punishment

bypass the penalty

Focuses on missing the specific punishment assigned to an action

circumvent the rules

Implies finding a clever or technical way around restrictions

slip through the cracks

Suggests being overlooked by a system rather than intentional evasion

FAQs

How do I use "get away with" in a sentence?

You can use it to show someone avoided trouble, such as: "He thought he could "get away with" lying on his resume until the background check."

What is the difference between "get away with" and "get away from"?

The phrase "get away from" refers to moving away from a physical location or situation, whereas "get away with" refers to escaping the negative consequences of an action. For example, you "get away from" a fire but you "get away with" a crime.

Is "get away with" formal enough for business writing?

While it is common in journalism, you might prefer more precise terms like "escape punishment", "avoid consequences" or "go unpunished" in highly formal legal or corporate documents.

What does the expression "get away with murder" mean?

It is an idiom meaning to do whatever one wants without being stopped or punished. It is rarely used literally and usually describes a person who is overly pampered or faces no discipline.