let someone off
phrasal verb with let verb uk/let/ us/let/ letting | let
B2 宽宥（某人）;从轻处罚（某人）
to not punish someone who has committed a crime or done something wrong, or to not punish them severely
Instead of a prison sentence they were let off with a fine. 他们没有被判刑，只是被罚了款而已。
You won't be let off so lightly (= you will be punished more severely) the next time. 下一次就不会这样轻饶你了。
- More examples
- The police let him off with a warning.
- I'll let you off if you apologize.
- My Mum said I had to do all the ironing as a punishment, but I'm hoping she'll let me off.
- Considering the severity of the crime, they were let off lightly.
- I let him off because he seemed so sorry.