# let someone off the hook

idiom · CEFR B2

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/let-someone-off-the-hook
Updated: 2026-06-07

## Meaning

To not hold someone responsible for something

## Examples

- The teacher lets him off the hook for the late homework.
- 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.

## Origin

From angling: a fish that escapes the hook is freed from its predicament; figurative use from the 19th century. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.