gets away with murder

Faces no punishment

Gets away with murder means to escape consequences for serious wrongdoing, or more loosely, to enjoy excessive tolerance for bad behavior.

The phrase is almost always figurative—not about literal killing but about someone who faces no accountability: She gets away with murder at that job because she's the boss's daughter.

My little brother got away with murder growing up.

impunityFreedom from consequences
above the lawBeyond legal accountability
leniencyMildness in punishment
slap on the wristTrivially lenient penalty
privilegeExclusive right or benefit

deception · dishonesty · dodges a bullet · miscarriage of justice · walks free · irresponsibility · teflon · influence · scot-free · hypocrisy · turns a blind eye · manipulation · nepotism · plays favorites · unfairness · moral hazard · favoritism · corruption

Opposites

accountability

gets away with murderpays the price

Suffers deserved consequences

faces the music · held accountable · brought to justice · pays the piper · reaps what one sows

scrutiny and standards

gets away with murderunder the microscope

Being closely examined

watched like a hawk · zero tolerance

treatment/standards applied

gets away with murderpicked on

Repeatedly mistreated or teased

singled out · walks on eggshells

Family

getting, murder, murders, murdered, murdering, murderer, murderers, murderous, murderously

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG