Beat the rap Meaning in English
expression
ˈbit/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈɹæp
BEET thuh RAP
bˈiːt/ /ðə, ði/ /ɹˈæp
BEET thuh RAP
Definition
To escape punishment or avoid being found guilty of a crime, even if you actually did it.
Usage & Nuances
Informal and often used when referring to someone who escapes justice, especially unjustly. Common with crime and legal contexts. Don't use for minor rule-breaking—it's about serious offenses.
Spanish: salirse con la suya (delito) - librarse del castigoPortuguese (BR): escapar da punição (crime) - se livrar da acusaçãoPortuguese (PT): safar-se da punição (crime) - evitar a condenaçãoChinese (Simplified): 逃脱惩罚（犯罪）Chinese (Traditional): 逃脫懲罰（犯罪）Hindi: गिरफ्तारी से बच जानाArabic: الإفلات من العقاب (جريمة)Bengali: শাস্তি এড়ানো (অপরাধ)Russian: уйти от наказания (преступление)Japanese: 罪から逃れるVietnamese: thoát tội (tránh bị kết án)Korean: 처벌을 피하다 (범죄)Turkish: suçtan paçayı sıyırmakUrdu: سزا سے بچ جاناIndonesian: lolos dari hukuman (kejahatan)
Example Sentences
He hired a famous lawyer and beat the rap.
basic
Everyone thought he would go to jail, but he beat the rap.
basic
She got lucky and managed to beat the rap this time.
basic
Rumor has it the politician used his connections to beat the rap.
natural
People were shocked he managed to beat the rap after so much evidence against him.
natural
If his alibi holds up in court, he might beat the rap yet again.
natural