Free from responsibility, blame, or obligation; no longer in trouble or facing consequences for something.
Another fishing metaphor, dating to the 1800s, where a fish that gets 'off the hook' escapes after being caught. The phrase transferred to legal and social contexts, describing someone who avoids punishment or responsibility.
There's a wonderful sense of escape and relief built into 'off the hook' – it implies not just freedom, but freedom after being caught or nearly caught. The phrase carries the emotional weight of a narrow escape from consequences.
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