get away with
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words
To do something bad or against the rules and not get in trouble for it.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
neutral
To do something wrong or against the rules and avoid being punished.
"He copied his classmate's essay and got away with it."
"Some people think they can get away with murder."
— Common English idiom; widely used in journalism and political commentary
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To be able to do or use something unconventional that other people accept or that works well enough.
"You can get away with a less formal outfit at that restaurant."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Can also be used neutrally to mean doing something unconventional that still works or is accepted: 'She can get away with that hairstyle.' The phrase carries an implicit sense of luck or cunning.
Commonly used with
murder it cheating lying anything crime
Forms
Base
get away with
I/you/we/they
3rd person
gets away with
he/she/it
Past simple
got away with
yesterday
Past participle
got/gotten away with
have + pp
-ing form
getting away with
continuous
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Synonyms
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