lɛt ˈsʌmwʌn ɒf ðə hʊk
General
informal
intermediate
- Literally:
- To release someone from a fishing hook
What does "let someone off the hook" mean?
- To free someone from blame or responsibility
- To excuse someone from an obligation
Examples
- The teacher let him off the hook for missing the deadline.
- Don't let yourself off the hook—you need to take responsibility.
- She was let off the hook because of her apology.
Origin
From fishing—releasing a caught fish from the hook and letting it go free. Same origin as 'get someone off the hook.'
How to use it
Can imply escaping deserved consequences or receiving merciful treatment.
Similar expressions
excuse
pardon
let go
forgive
Opposites
hold accountable
blame
punish
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "let someone off the hook" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.