The teacher lets him off the hook for the late homework.
let someone off the hook
idiomTo not hold someone responsible for something
Origin
disputed originFrom angling: a fish that escapes the hook is freed from its predicament; figurative use from the 19th century.
Since it was my first day on the job, my boss let me off the hook for making a small mistake.
Although the evidence suggested he was responsible for the error, the committee decided to let him off the hook due to his previous years of service.
Last updated June 7, 2026