scotfreeとは 意味・読み方・使い方

別の表記

• scotfree, scott free
• scotchfree, skot fre, shot-free (all obsolete)

語源

From 中期英語 scotfre, from 古期英語 scotfrēo (“scot-free; exempt from royal tax or imposts”), equivalent to scot (“payment; contribution; fine”) +‎ -free.

発音

• (英国発音) IPA: /ˌskɒtˈfɹi/
• (米国発音) IPA: /ˌskɑtˈfɹi/
• 韻: -iː

副詞

scot-free (not comparable)

1. (colloquial) Without consequences or penalties, free without payment.

   to get off scot-free

   • 1602, William Watson, “The IIII. Article”, in A Decacordon of Ten Quodlibeticall Questions Concerning Religion and State: […], [London]: […] [Richard Field], →OCLC, page 110:

     To ſay the Ieſuites are all ſmattred vvith Atheiſme, I vvill not: and to ſay, that any of them all are abſolutely ſcotfree from it, I cannot: it is ſo repugnant from their ovvne principles.

   • a. 1664 (date delivered), Robert Sanderson, “The Preface to the Reader”, in XXXIV Sermons. […], 5th edition, London: […] [A. Clark] for A. Seil, and are to be sold by G. Sawbridge, […], published 1671, →OCLC:

     [T]he Papiſts, profeſſed Enemies of our Church and Religion, eſcaping in the mean vvhile Scot-free, ſeldome or never medled vvithal in any of their Sermons.

   • 1967, United States. Congress. House. Committee on the District of Columbia, Anticrime Legislation, page 38:

     Correct me if I am missuggesting; you stated that there were 28,000 actual serious crimes committed in 1965 —I believe it was that year — and only 1,000 convictions , which means that the chances are, roughly, 28 to 1 of getting off scot free — that one can commit an act of violence, a serious crime, and have a good chance of getting off.

   • 2021 September 5, Chris McGreal, “Opioids have killed 600,000 Americans. The Sacklers just got off scot-free”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC:

     Opioids have killed 600,000 Americans. The Sacklers just got off scot-free

     (Can we archive this URL?)

   • 2022 August 4, Elizabeth Williamson, quoting Mark Bankston, “Jurors award Sandy Hook parents $4 million in damages”, in The New York Times‎, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:

     He added: "It's been a long journey, and it's really, really nice to able to turn and look at my clients, and say 'he can't get off scot-free for this. He can't. You had a defendant who went into that courtroom and said, 'I think I should have to pay them a dollar.' And this jury said no."

     (Can we archive this URL?)

形容詞

scot-free (comparative more scot-free, superlative most scot-free)

1. (archaic) Free of scot, free of tax.

参考

• beat the rap

参照