Päästä kuin koira veräjästä

Meaning: To escape consequences entirely; to get off scot-free.

Literally: To get off like a dog through the gate

Example: “Kaikki muut saivat sakot, mutta hän pääsi kuin koira veräjästä.” — Everyone else was fined, but he got off scot-free.

English equivalent: To get off scot-free

Origin: A veräjä is a farm gate in a fence. A dog slips through the gap in a moment, before anyone can stop it. Getting through like a dog through a gate is getting off very easily, without trouble or punishment.

Equivalents in other languages

Dutch: De dans ontspringen Literally: To leap out of the dance
English: get off scot-free

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More Finnish idioms

Olla kuin Ellun kanat To live a carefree, comfortable life.
Vetää lonkalta To improvise; to wing it.
Mennä metsään To go completely wrong.
Olla pinna kireällä To be on edge and short-tempered.
Lyödä rahoiksi To cash in; to profit handsomely.
Ei ole kaikki muumit laaksossa Someone isn't quite all there.

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