Get off lightly Meaning in English
expression
ˈɡɛt/, /ˈɡɪt/ /ˈɔf/ /ˈɫaɪtɫi
GET-awf-LYTE-lee
ɡˈɛt/ /ˈɒf/ /lˈaɪtli
get-OFF-LYTE-lee
Definition
To receive little or no punishment for something that could have had worse consequences.
Usage & Nuances
Usually informal. Often used when describing punishments, consequences, or blame. It's commonly used to compare actual outcomes to what could have happened; sometimes implies the person was lucky.
Spanish: salir bien parado - recibir un castigo levePortuguese (BR): sair ileso - escapar com punição levePortuguese (PT): safar-se com pouca punição - escapar levementeChinese (Simplified): 受到轻微的惩罚 - 逃过一劫Chinese (Traditional): 受到輕微的懲罰 - 逃過一劫Hindi: हल्के में छूट जाना - कम सजा पानाArabic: يفلت بعقوبة خفيفة - ينجو بسهولةBengali: অল্পে পার পেয়ে যাওয়া - সামান্য শাস্তি পাওয়াRussian: отделаться легкоJapanese: 軽く済むVietnamese: bị phạt nhẹ - thoát tội nhẹKorean: 가볍게 넘어가다 - 가볍게 처벌받다Turkish: hafif atlatmak - ucuz atlatmakUrdu: بخیر گزر جاناIndonesian: lolos dengan hukuman ringan - mendapat hukuman ringan
Example Sentences
He thought he would be in big trouble, but he got off lightly with just a warning.
basic
The student got off lightly for cheating on the test.
basic
She broke the vase but got off lightly because it was an accident.
basic
Looks like we got off lightly compared to those other teams.
natural
After all that drama, I really got off lightly—just a few questions from my boss.
natural
You call that a punishment? He totally got off lightly!
natural