to let somebody get away with it

[Marina Gaidar]

I've read in a dictionary that "to let somebody get away with it" means that somebody has stolen something and escaped unnoticed and without punishment. Is it only about stealing something? If, for instance, somebody has beaten one of my friends, can I say: "I will not let them get away with it!"?

[5jj]

Yes.

[TheParser]

If, for instance, somebody has beaten one of my friends, can I say: "I will not let them get away with it!"?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****



Hello, Ms. Gaidar:

1. It is very nice that you will not let that thug get away with beating your friend. But please remember that you

have to be very careful in how you do this. For example, if you beat the thug, then the police will not let you get away with

it (beating the thug).

I am a very old man. Sometimes (many times?) in life, we have to let bad people get away with it, for there is nothing

(legal) that we can do about it.

3. But I have learned something: often (not always) bad people come to a very bad end.

a. Let's say that you cannot do anything (legal) to that thug who beat your friend. There is a very good chance that

in the future (tomorrow / in five years / in 30 years), something bad will happen to that bad individual. That should make

your friend feel better. I know that it makes me feel better!!!


James


P.S. I believe that the opposite of "get away with it" is "to hold someone accountable," that is, to punish the bad person.

[emsr2d2]

Of course, if you're not confident that karma will come around and bite the thug on the a*s in the future, you could just go to the police and report him for beating your friend. That way, you are certainly not letting him get away with it.

[5jj]

P.S. I believe that the opposite of "get away with it" is "to hold someone accountable," that is, to punish the bad person.

It's not really 'the opposite'. I can hold someone accountable for something (in my eyes, or those of a deity that I happen to be foolish enough believe in). They can still 'get away with it' if the legal system so decrees. 'Holding someone accountable' for something does not necessarily mean that they are punished for it.