Getting away with it 🏃💨⚖️
Meaning
To do something wrong or forbidden and not be punished for it.
Origin
This phrase conjures images of a daring escape, and its origins likely lie in that very idea. Think of a thief slipping past a guard, a child pilfering a cookie unseen, or a clever con artist leaving their mark none the wiser. The 'getting away' part signifies a successful departure from a potentially problematic situation, while 'with it' refers to the transgression itself. It taps into that universal human experience of skirting the rules and, thrillingly, succeeding without consequence, a sensation that’s been part of our language for centuries.
Getting away with it represented with emoji🏃💨⚖️
This playful arrangement of symbols functions as a whimsical riddle, prompting us to consider the thrilling, perhaps precarious, dance of escaping consequences. It underscores the notion that sometimes, speed and a dash of daring are all that's needed to elude accountability, all while a silent scale of justice hangs in the balance.
Examples
- He thought he was clever, but he ended up getting away with it.
- She snuck an extra cookie from the jar, but her mom didn't notice, so she was getting away with it.
- The tiny mouse tiptoed past the sleeping cat, quite pleased with getting away with it.
- The little goblin managed to trade a shiny pebble for a whole pie, successfully getting away with it.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, 'getting away with it' is a very common idiom used in everyday English. It's frequently used to describe situations where someone has done something wrong but hasn't faced any punishment or negative consequences.
A common opposite of 'getting away with it' is 'getting caught' or 'facing the music.' These phrases describe the situation where someone who has done something wrong is discovered and must deal with the consequences.
While primarily used for negative actions, 'getting away with it' can sometimes be used humorously or ironically in a positive context. It might describe narrowly avoiding a minor inconvenience or successfully completing a difficult task without facing expected trouble.
The phrase 'getting away with it' strongly implies that the person has done something wrong or illicit. The core of the idiom is the lack of punishment despite having committed a transgression.