Let someone off the hook

You are wondering about the meaning of the phrase Let someone off the hook, maybe you heard it in a TV show, movie or theater play. Although this idiom is not used very often, it enriches your capacity of expression and strengthens communication. In which case is the expression Let someone off the hook used and what is its meaning?

Meaning of "Let someone off the hook"

Meaning

The idiom ‘Let someone off the hook’ is used to describe the act of releasing someone from a responsibility or obligation. It can also mean to pardon someone from a punishment, or to forgive them for a mistake. In other words, the phrase is used to describe a situation in which someone is not held accountable for their actions.

Etymology

The phrase ‘Let someone off the hook’ is thought to have originated in the United States in the 1890s. The phrase was likely derived from the literal act of releasing a hooked fish from a fishing line. The phrase is also associated with the legal term ‘hook and release’, which has been used since the mid-1800s.

Usage

The phrase ‘Let someone off the hook’ is used in both spoken and written English. It is usually used in the context of a person or group of people being let off by someone else. For example, the phrase could be used in the context of a judge ‘letting off’ a defendant with a warning, rather than imposing a sentence. It is also often used in the context of a friend or family member forgiving someone for an error, or excusing them from a task.

Example Sentences

• The teacher let the student off the hook this time, but warned that there would be serious consequences if the same mistake was made again.
• After much discussion, the company decided to let their employee off the hook and continue to employ them.
• My brother was expecting a scolding, but I decided to let him off the hook this time.
• The judge let the criminal off the hook, much to the surprise of the public.

The power of idioms transcends languages!

"Putting the cart before the horse" is an English idiom that means doing things in the wrong order. In Russian, the similar idiom is "Кладёт колесо впереди лошади," which translates to "Putting the cart before the horse." This idiom emphasizes the idea that doing things in the wrong order can lead to confusion and problems down the line.