off the hook 是一個美國常用的習慣用語,是從釣魚衍變而來來的,最早的時候是指一條本來已經(jīng)咬鉤的魚又脫了鉤,重獲自由。從字面看hook是鉤子的意思,所以,Off the hook 脫鉤,其實就是脫身,或是擺脫責任的意思。
例句:
1.We have confirmed that the man was two thousand miles away in Los Angeles at the time of the murder, sir. So as far as we're concerned, he is off the hook, and no further investigation is required.
我們已經(jīng)證實,謀殺案案發(fā)的時候,此人正在兩千英里以外的洛杉磯市,所以對于我們來說,他不可能參與此案。不再需要對他進行調查了。
2.I agree with the mayor that many of our problems can be blamed on the policies of the federal government, but I also think that the mayor has to take some of the blame himself. There's no way he should be let off the hook so easily.
我同意市長的看法,我們遇到的很多問題確實要歸咎于聯(lián)邦政府的政策,不過我覺得,市長也應該承擔一部分責任,絕不能讓他這么輕松地推卸責任。