How to use "get away with"

What Does "get away with" Mean?

The phrasal verb "get away with" means to avoid being caught or punished for doing something wrong, illegal, or undesirable. It implies that someone has escaped negative consequences for their actions.
The meaning is semi-idiomatic. While "get away" has a literal meaning of escaping, the addition of "with" creates a specific meaning related to impunity.
The register is generally neutral to informal. While it can be used in formal contexts, it's more common in everyday speech and writing.

How to Use It

Grammatical pattern: verb + particle + preposition
Typical objects: a crime, a lie, bad behavior, something.
The components of the phrasal verb can be separated, especially when a pronoun is used as the object (e.g., "get away with it").
What sounds unnatural: Using the wrong preposition (e.g., "get away from"), using an incorrect verb (e.g., "obtain away with"), or attempting to use it in a context where avoiding punishment isn't relevant.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from get away with on Ludwig.guru.

"They get away with murder"." — The New York Times

"You'd never get away with it"." — Independent

"How does he get away with this?" — The New York Times

"You get away with whatever you want." — The New Yorker

"I tried to get away with heels." — The New York Times

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/get+away+with

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
escape punishment	More formal, emphasizes the avoidance of consequences.
evade justice	Formal, often used in legal contexts.
go unpunished	Highlights the lack of consequences.
get off scot-free	Informal, implies complete avoidance of consequences.
avoid consequences	More general and neutral, applicable in various situations.
beat the rap	Informal, specifically refers to avoiding criminal charges.

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong preposition is a common error. For example, saying "get away from" instead of "get away with" changes the meaning entirely. "Get away from" means to physically escape someone or something.
Using an inappropriate verb, such as "obtain away with", is incorrect. The correct verb is always "get".
A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding phrases or to incorrectly use the preposition, for example, saying "get away from" when you mean "get away with".

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
get away with	To avoid being punished for something wrong.	verb + particle + preposition	Neutral to Informal

FAQs

Can the parts of "get away with" be separated in a sentence?

Yes, the parts of "get away with" can sometimes be separated, especially when a pronoun is used as the object. For example, you can say "He tried to get it away with," although "He tried to get away with it" is more common and natural.

How is "get away with" different from "escape"?

While both involve avoiding something, "escape" usually refers to physically fleeing a place or situation. "Get away with" specifically means to avoid punishment or negative consequences for an action, not necessarily a physical escape.

What's wrong with saying "get away from" when I mean "get away with"?

Saying "get away from" changes the meaning completely. "Get away from" means to move or distance yourself physically from someone or something, while "get away with" means to avoid punishment for a wrongdoing. Mixing them up will confuse your listener.

Tools