Is let someone off the hook formal or informal?

It is neutral and common in speech and writing. It works well in everyday English and news reports.

Does it mean forgive someone?

Not exactly. It usually means they avoid blame, punishment, or a difficult duty.

Can I use it in business English?

Yes, especially when talking about responsibility, mistakes, or penalties.

← Dictionary

let-someone-off-the-hook

/let ˈsʌm.wʌn ɒf ðə hʊk/

IELTSAcademic

idiom

To let someone off the hook means to free them from blame, duty, or punishment. It often suggests that they should have been blamed or punished, but were not.

The manager let him off the hook with a warning.
She admitted the mistake, but he let her off the hook.
Don't let me off the hook this time.

Adinary Nuance

Use let someone off the hook when someone avoids blame, pressure, or punishment. It is different from forgive, which is about not staying angry, and from excuse, which can mean giving a reason. It also differs from release, which is more general and does not suggest blame.

In other languages

Vietnamese: tha cho
Spanish: librar a alguien
Chinese: 放过某人
Japanese: 見逃す
Korean: 봐주다

Etymology

This idiom comes from fishing. A fish on a hook is trapped, and letting it off the hook means setting it free. It became common in English in the 1900s.

Common phrases

let him off the hooklet her off the hooklet someone off the hook with a warning

Synonyms

forgive excuse spare

Frequently asked questions

Is let someone off the hook formal or informal?: It is neutral and common in speech and writing. It works well in everyday English and news reports.
Does it mean forgive someone?: Not exactly. It usually means they avoid blame, punishment, or a difficult duty.
Can I use it in business English?: Yes, especially when talking about responsibility, mistakes, or penalties.