get away with it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "get away with it" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to mean successfully escape punishment for a misdeed. For example: "The suspect was able to get away with it and was never charged for their crimes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Will he get away with it?

The New Yorker

"He can get away with it.

The New York Times - Sports

They may get away with it.

The Economist

How does Trump get away with it?

Independent

Will they get away with it?

The New York Times

You'd never get away with it".

Independent

They might get away with it.

The Guardian

Could they get away with it?

Independent

Politicians who get away with it.

The New Yorker

He didn't get away with it.

The New Yorker

How do they get away with it?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "get away with it" to convey a sense of successfully avoiding negative consequences, whether through luck, skill, or circumstance. The phrase often carries a slightly negative connotation, implying that the action was not entirely justifiable.

Common error

Avoid using "get away with it" when describing actions that are genuinely admirable or ethical. The phrase typically implies a degree of wrongdoing or questionable behavior.

Linguistic Context

The idiomatic phrase "get away with it" functions as a verb phrase, expressing the ability to avoid negative consequences or punishment for an action. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "get away with it" is a common and versatile idiom used to express that someone has avoided the expected negative consequences for their actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, it often carries a slightly negative connotation. Consider using alternatives like "evade punishment" or "escape the consequences" for a more formal tone, depending on your context. Remember that while the phrase is useful for describing a variety of situations, it implies that the action was questionable or not entirely justified.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get off scot-free

Means escaping without any penalty or damage.

evade punishment

Focuses specifically on avoiding punitive action.

go unpunished

Emphasizes the lack of retribution for a wrongdoing.

escape the consequences

Highlights the avoidance of negative outcomes resulting from an action.

dodge the bullet

Highlights narrowly avoiding a negative situation or outcome.

beat the system

Implies outsmarting or circumventing rules or regulations.

circumvent the law

Focuses on avoiding legal repercussions through clever maneuvering.

skate by

Suggests managing to succeed with minimal effort or risk.

flout the rules

Suggests openly disregarding rules without facing any penalties.

pull a fast one

Implies deceiving someone to achieve a goal without consequences.

FAQs

How can I use "get away with it" in a sentence?

You can use "get away with it" to describe someone avoiding consequences for their actions, such as "He cheated on the test, but he managed to "get away with it"."

What does "get away with it" mean?

"Get away with it" means to succeed in doing something wrong or illegal without being caught or punished.

What can I say instead of "get away with it"?

You can use alternatives like "evade punishment", "escape the consequences", or "go unpunished" depending on the context.

Is "getting away with it" grammatically correct?

Yes, "getting away with it" is a grammatically correct variation of ""get away with it"", often used in continuous tenses.