Welcome to Idiom 100, where we learn 100 commonly used idioms by native English speakers.

All of the explanations are in English, but don't worry.

Hang in there, study hard, listen carefully and soon you'll be using these idioms in your daily conversations.

Is everyone ready? Let's begin.

Hello everyone!

Today's idiom is: off the hook.

Off the hook.

Alright, so in this situation it's maybe helpful to imagine we are fishing.

Right and we're fishing and we throw the line and we catch a fish and the fish in on the hook, right?

On the hook and the fish is in for a terrible future, right?

Our plan is to have him for dinner,

but suddenly we decide, 'Oh no. I feel sorry for this fish, so I'll let him off the hook,' and he can be free, okay?

So we took the fish off the hook and he was free.

So, let's imagine this situation and listen to some examples that can help us understand the meaning of 'off the hook'.

Hey, I heard you're in charge of the PTA (parent teacher association) at your child's elementary school!

Yeah, but I told the principal it's too stressful and he let me off the hook.

Alright, so she was on the PTA, she was in charge of the PTA, which is a Parent-Teacher Association

and it's a big responsibility and she told the principal, 'It's too much. I can't do it. It's too stressful for me.'

So, he let her off the hook.

Yeah, gave her her freedom, yeah, it's okay, you don't have to do it.

Alright, let's listen to the second example.

I was supposed to babysit my nephew this weekend, but my sister-in-law found this great babysitter, so I got off the hook.

Great, let's go watch movies like we planned.

Alright, so he had to babysit, he had a responsibility to babysit,

but his sister-in-law found another babysitter, so he was let off the hook.

Yeah, given freedom. It's okay, you don't have to do it.

So, to be let 'off the hook' means to be relieved of your responsibility or your duty in a situation, right?

Kind of you had to do something, there was pressure and a sense of responsibility and all of a sudden, you don't have to do it.

Maybe someone decided, 'It's okay. We don't need you to do it, so you're off the hook.'

Yeah, you're free from this responsibility.

Alright and we can also use it in a situation where someone suspected you of doing something bad.

Yeah, in this case you're on the hook, was you're the suspect. We think you did it.

And when we realize, 'Actually, maybe you didn't do it,' then you're off the hook.

Yeah, it wasn't you, never mind. It was this guy. Yeah, you're off the hook, okay?

So, let's try using this phrase, 'Someone let me off the hook,' or, 'I am off the hook.'

Okay, to mean you don't have the responsibility in the situation anymore and I'll see you next time. Thank you!