The phrase 'Scot-Free' means that something or someone is completely free from penalty or harm. The term is also used in discussing a person who has avoided paying taxes.
Example of Use: “He was guilty of robbery, yet the jury error meant he got away with his crime scot-free.”
Interesting fact about Scot-Free
The expression 'Scot-free' originates from the Scandanavian word, 'Skat,' which means “tax” or “payment.” The word mutated into 'scot' as the name of redistributive taxation meant to provide relief to the poor during the 10th century. Someone who did not have to pay the tax for some reason was referred to as 'scot-free.'
